Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paula Jarzabkowski, Professor in Strategic Management, The University of Queensland

Late winter and early spring has been marked by wild weather sweeping large parts of Australia, damaging homes and businesses and causing power outages.

Such unpredictable weather is also occurring around the world and driving huge rises in premiums to the point where the future of insurance is in doubt.

In 2022, floods, hurricanes, hailstorms, winter storms and droughts amounted to more than A$149 billion in insured losses globally with losses growing five years prior.

The full impact and cost of the latest events in Australia will not be known for some time, but it can be expected to be significant.

Extreme weather

As one of the world’s most climate exposed nations, Australia is at the forefront of extreme weather effects on insurance premiums.

In the “great deluge” of 2022, flooding in Queensland and New South Wales amounted to A$5.56 billion in insured losses from 236,000 individual claims.

As extreme weather generates ever-greater losses, insurers are reluctant to provide cover in higher-risk locations. Increasingly they are not offering policies, making insurance unavailable, or raising premiums to unaffordable levels.

One insurer reported between 2020 and 2023, their average household premium rose by 56%.

And the situation is worsening.

Insurance stress

In 2022, 10% of Australian households faced extreme insurance stress, defined as paying more than four weeks’ gross household income for a policy.

By 2024, this rose to 15% of Australian households, with the most stressed households facing premiums of up to 9.6 weeks, or 18% of their gross income.

This measure of insurance stress is based on gross household income. Yet premiums are paid from net income after tax. Many households simply cannot afford insurance with the Insurance Council of Australia estimating 23% of households are uninsured.

In June 2024, the Australian Bureau of Statistics noted insurance is one of the main contributors to rising living costs across all household types.

Unsurprisingly, when needing to pay energy bills, put food on the table, and fuel in the car, many Australians have little choice but to let insurance lapse, or buy less insurance than they need to recover after a weather event.

Why we can’t rely on insurance

Even for those who are insured, widespread loss from extreme weather means they cannot necessarily rely on their insurance claims to bounce back from disaster.

Large numbers of claims can result in lengthy settlements, as insurer resources are stretched by the complexity of assessing damage, and the increased demand on trades and services, including temporary accommodation.

Excess demand following widespread loss has effects beyond emotionally charged claims processes, as insurers are using cash settlements to resolve claims quickly.

Cash settlements can be offered when the homeowner is underinsured and the policy will not cover full repairs, when there is a lack of trades and services to complete the work, or when homeowners are desperate to get some compensation to help them move on from disaster.

However, there are serious financial implications for homeowners in accepting cash. Recent research reveals cash settlements are often under-quoted and homeowners lack appropriate knowledge and experience to accurately assess the offer.

As a result, this can leave homeowners without enough money to fix their property, potentially leaving them with an unlivable home and large debt.

Economic impacts

A lack of affordable insurance also has significant negative consequences for Australia’s economy.

Home insurance is usually required to take out a mortgage. However, about 5% of Australian households with a mortgage are experiencing insurance stress.

Such insurance-stressed homeowners are in a precarious financial situation following extreme weather losses, as they have insufficient funds to repair their home and/or repay their mortgage.

Potential homeowners are also affected, as they may be unable to get a mortgage in higher-risk locations, as banks anticipate insurance will be unavailable or unaffordable.

With as many as one in 25 homes across Australia expected to be uninsurable by 2030 and one in seven homes in the most at-risk localities, this looming mortgage crisis will have wide-reaching implications beyond home ownership.

Mortgages are critical for business lending, to support the rental market and ensure viable communities.

A bleak forecast

The compounding effects of insurance stress, extreme weather, and pressure on banks to take account of climate exposure is likely to limit lending to small business, constrain housing supply, and affect jobs, especially in higher-risk locations.

This complex situation is already evident across cyclone-exposed northern Australia, where the impact of rapidly rising premiums, or a lack of insurance availability, means small business owners, such as tourism and hospitality operators, struggle to meet licensing and regulatory requirements.

This is forcing many to reconsider their future viability.

Given Australia’s reliance on home ownership for economic security, a robust rental market to support jobs, and viable small businesses to support vibrant communities, the effects of extreme weather on insurance availability and affordability are set to affect us all.

Paula Jarzabkowski has previously received research funding from the Insurance Intellectual Capital Initiative (UK) and from insurance risk pools. She is a member of the OECD High-Level Advisory Board for the Financial Management of Catastrophic Risk, the Lloyd’s of London Futureset Technical Advisory Group, and the Pool Reinsurance Company Advisory Council.

Katie Meissner, postdoctoral research fellow and Tyler Riordan, postdoctoral research fellow do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Wild weather is costing billions of dollars and putting the future of insurance in doubt – https://theconversation.com/wild-weather-is-costing-billions-of-dollars-and-putting-the-future-of-insurance-in-doubt-237983

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Gaunson, Associate Professor in Cinema Studies, RMIT University

The lavender painted bus named “Priscilla” continues to pick up new fans while never going out of favour with its legion of original devotees, 30 years after its release.

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert was shot on location in and around Sydney, Broken Hill, Coober Pedy, Kings Canyon and Alice Springs over six weeks in 1993.

Directed by Stephan Elliott, the film screened in the Un Certain Regard section of the May 1994 Cannes Film Festival, winning critical and popular acclaim for its positive portrayal of LGBTQI+ characters.

Awards came, most notably for costume designers Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner who won the Academy Award for Best Costume Design for their sparkly, sequin-filled costumes.

The film’s cultural brilliance lies in juxtaposing the extreme flamboyance of the costumes and props against the equally extreme rural natural desert landscape. The unexpected revelation for audiences was how perfectly these contrasting elements harmonised.

A smash hit

Less than 12 months since its release, the Film Finance Corporation (FFC) of Australia had the rare success of fully recouping its A$1.67 million investment.

Initially hesitant due to Elliott’s disappointing box office return on his debut feature, Frauds (1993), the FFC was convinced after the screenplay gained attention at Cannes. The film exceeded predictions, grossing more than $16 million in Australia.

The film was socially and critically embraced as an instant classic.

Ask cinema employees from this time and they will all share similar memories of lines of people outside the cinema doors eager to watch and rewatch (and rewatch again) the musical road movie about a pair of drag queens (Hugo Weaving and Guy Pearce) and a transgender woman (Terence Stamp) as they set out from Sydney on a bus journey across the Australian outback.

The casting today seems like more of a sure bet than it did in 1994. Stamp was a British actor of legendary status, having gained critical accolades in the 1960s in films such as Billy Budd, The Collector and Far from the Madding Crowd. However Stamp was equally a regular tabloid subject for his high-profile romances with film star Julie Christie and supermodel Jean Shrimpton.

Would audiences be willing to go with the idea of this playboy as the trandsgender woman, Bernadette?

It is now impossible to consider any actor better able to deliver Terrance Stamps’s deadpan sardonic lines so perfectly: “Don’t ‘Darling’, me, Darling. Look at you. You’ve got a face like a cat’s arse.”

Pearce and Weaving also were a risk. Neither were box office marquee stars at the time. Pearce was known as a lovable Mike from the popular television soap opera, Neighbours. Weaving was a critically respected actor known more for his quirky small parts than as a star in his own right.

Both were perfect casting, launching them onto Hollywood careers. Pearce as Adam was a remarkable revelation.

The chemistry and connection between the three lead actors makes the film truly succeed.

Never do their performances seem showboating or forced. Each has their own arc, personality and journey. And when they climb Kings Canyon in full drag regalia at the film’s end there is something moving about what they have been able to accomplish together.

A film that begins to be a slight and joyful comedy about drag performers becomes a deeper essay on the importance of lived experience and friendship (or, dare I say, mateship).

More vital than ever

Drag has a long history in mainstream cinema with its own codes and references.

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is crucially different by it not being about “straight” men masquerading as women to mask their actual identity. Instead, Elliot’s film rather positively celebrates these characters in drag as their true and authentic selves.

This film stood with others as a wave of Australian cinema in the 1990s unashamedly wanting to celebrate an Australia juxtaposing the blokey masculine stereotype.

Ocker characters (men and women) appear in this film, but ultimately they are publicly humiliated for their homophobia. Bernadette kneeing in the groin the vicious and vulgar Frank (Kenneth Radley) often receives a big cheer from cinema audiences: “Stop flexing your muscles, you big pile of budgie turd,” Bernadette scorns.

Perhaps the true star of the film were not the actors as much as the iconic 1976 Japanese model Hino Freighter Priscilla bus that became the set for several scenes in the film. Because the bus interior was such a small set, there was no room for the crew with many actually in shot, hiding under clothes and other props.

The bus, long thought to be lost, was rediscovered on a farm in New South Wales in 2019. The bus is currently being restored, with an aim to have it on display at the National Motor Museum in Birdwood, Adelaide Hills, in 2026. Perhaps it will be good timing for shooting the recently announced potential sequel.

30 years after its original release The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert seems more important, enjoyable and vital than ever. All aboard, Priscilla. Long may she run.

RMIT Capitol will be hosting a screening and introductory panel discussion on September 11 with the film’s costume designer Tim Chappel, executive producer Rebel Penfold-Russell, Melbourne Queer Film Festival program director Cerise Howard, historian Kristy Kokegei and Stephen Gaunson.

Stephen Gaunson does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert at 30: more important, enjoyable and vital than ever – https://theconversation.com/the-adventures-of-priscilla-queen-of-the-desert-at-30-more-important-enjoyable-and-vital-than-ever-235424

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Steve Macfarlane, Head of Clinical Services, Dementia Support Australia, & Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Monash University

A Korean study published recently suggests people with type 2 diabetes who are prescribed a particular class of drug might be at a significantly lower risk of dementia.

The researchers compared the health outcomes of more than 110,000 people aged 40–69 with type 2 diabetes who had been prescribed a type of drug called SGLT-2 inhibitors with those of another 110,000 patients taking a different class of drug, DPP-4 inhibitors. They followed participants for an average of 670 days.

The researchers found that, after accounting for potential confounding factors, those taking an SGLT-2 inhibitor were 35% less likely to develop dementia.

Diabetes is recognised as a risk factor for dementia. So it’s not entirely surprising that treating diabetes could reduce the risk of dementia. But why would one drug cut the risk more than another? And how are diabetes and dementia linked anyway?

Diabetes and dementia

Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas. Its job is to move glucose (sugar) from our bloodstream into our cells, where it serves as a source of energy. Type 2 diabetes arises when our pancreas fails to produce enough insulin, or our cells develop a resistance to insulin.

Dementia is caused by changes in the brain and encompasses several conditions that affect memory, thinking, mood, and our ability to perform daily tasks.

Diabetes has long been recognised as a risk factor for both Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia, the two most common forms of dementia. Both are characterised by cognitive decline caused by disease of blood vessels in the brain.

We don’t fully understand why diabetes and dementia are linked in this way, but there a few possible reasons.

For example, diabetes increases the risk of heart disease and stroke, which damage the heart and blood vessels. When blood vessels in the brain are damaged, this may contribute to cognitive decline.

Also, high blood sugar levels cause inflammation, which may damage brain cells and contribute to the development of dementia.

Treating diabetes could mitigate the increased risk

Better control of blood sugar levels in diabetes helps protect blood vessels and reduces inflammation in the brain.

Diabetes may be controlled initially with lifestyle modifications such as diet and exercise, but management may also include medications, such as those taken by participants in the Korean study.

Patients taking either type of drug had comparable blood glucose control. But why did one reduce the risk of people developing dementia compared to the other?

SGLT-2 inhibitors (which stands for sodium-glucose transport protein 2) lower blood glucose by increasing its removal by the kidneys. These drugs are known to have positive effects on other areas of health too, including improving blood pressure, promoting weight loss, and reducing inflammation and oxidative stress (a type of damage to our cells).

Obesity and high blood pressure are themselves risk factors for vascular and Alzheimer’s-type dementia, so it may well be that these effects of the SGLT-2 inhibitors lower dementia risk to a greater degree than what could be expected by better blood glucose control alone.

Prevention versus treatment

It’s important to emphasise that the benefit of a drug reducing the risk of developing a disease is quite separate from any suggestion that the drug might be useful in treating that disease. The best way to reduce your risk of lung cancer, for example, is to stop smoking. Once you have lung cancer, however, stopping smoking is insufficient to treat it.

Having said this, because of the evidence linking diabetes and dementia, certain diabetes drugs have previously been investigated as treatments for Alzheimer’s disease. And they have been shown to provide a degree of benefit to cognition.

Semaglutide, better known by the trade name Ozempic, is a member of yet another class of diabetes drugs (called GLP1 receptor agonists). Semaglutide is currently being studied as a treatment for early Alzheimer’s disease in two clinical trials involving more than 3,500 patients.

These studies were themselves sparked by observations during clinical trials of semaglutide for people with diabetes, which showed lower rates of dementia in those who took the drug compared to those who took a placebo.

Similar to the SGLT-2 drugs, the GLP-1 class of drugs is known to reduce inflammation in the brain. GLP-1 drugs also appear to reduce chemical reactions that lead to an abnormal form of a protein called Tau, one of the pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease.

What next?

As our knowledge of the mechanisms underlying Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia continues to grow, so will advances in treatment.

It’s unlikely that a single drug will be the answer to Alzheimer’s disease. Cancer treatments have evolved to the point where the use of “drug cocktails”, or a combination of drugs, is now routine.

One possible future for these diabetes drugs is that we may see them used as part of a range of treatments to combat the ravages of dementia or, indeed, help prevent it, even in people without diabetes. But we need more research before we get to this point.

Steve Macfarlane is an investigator on a trial of semaglutide funded by Novo Nordisk.

– ref. Research shows diabetes drug could reduce dementia risk. Here’s how the two diseases may be linked – https://theconversation.com/research-shows-diabetes-drug-could-reduce-dementia-risk-heres-how-the-two-diseases-may-be-linked-237760

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul Kidson, Senior Lecturer in Educational Leadership, Australian Catholic University

The federal government has offered states a new funding agreement that would provide an extra A$16 billion for Australian schools, starting next year.

It sounds good, but Education Minister Jason Clare has made it clear the offer will lapse by the end of September if states and territories don’t sign up to it.

The Northern Territory signed up in July, just before its recent change of government. Western Australia signed up on Tuesday.

Clare is standing his ground, warning “stubborn” state and territory governments risk missing out entirely on the new money if they don’t agree.

How does the agreement work?

The federal government released details of the new agreement at the end of July.

It is due to replace current arrangements from January 1 2025. It requires states and territories to do specific things to improve student outcomes. In return, they get increased federal funding for schools.

The proposed new agreement would run for ten years.

Read more:
There’s a new 10-year plan for Australian schools. But will all states agree to sign on?

What’s in the new agreement?

There are three important components to the new agreement.

First, there are phonics (reading) and numeracy checks in early primary school school to identify students who need more help. There are ongoing concerns that once students start to fall behind, it’s much harder to catch up.

Second, there is money to connect schools and services which support student mental health. This likely means increasing access to psychologists, counsellors and mental health workers, although the details about how this might work are limited.

Third, the proposed agreement will focus on teacher and school leader (which includes principals and deputies) wellbeing. This follows research, such as our own, which shows this is a significant problem in schools, which are facing high levels of teacher burnout, mental health issues and resignations.

Our 2023 report asked whether school leaders seriously considered changing their jobs. More than 1,250 (or 55% of participants) said yes.

This is the first time a national schools policy has singled out teacher and principal wellbeing as an issue. It’s also essential if we are going to see significant change in student wellbeing, which has been a source of growing concern over the past few years.

So why aren’t all states and territories signing?

They’re not happy with the deal.

The federal government has offered to increase its contribution to funding government schools from 20% to 22.5% of the Schooling Resourcing Standard. This is the estimated cost of educating students to an adequate level.

Remaining jurisdictions say this is not enough to run their schools and want this amount increased to 25% before they sign. They have been holding firm to this position since the beginning of the year.

Both sides feel they have a case.

A May 2024 review by the National School Resourcing Board found the current indexation arrangements for school funding are suitable.

Meanwhile, states are looking at the fine print. For example, the current funding agreement for New South Wales says the state government will provide “at least 75% of the [Schooling Resource Standard] by 2027”. But it does not commit NSW to do more – leaving the state government to argue the federal government should contribute 25%.

What happens now?

We are in the middle of a standoff. September is now here, and Western Australia joining the Northern Territory in signing the agreement adds to the pressure.

There’s little to suggest either Clare or his unsigned state and territory counterparts are willing to shift their positions at the moment.

It is not an realistic option for the federal minister to strike individual deals with those who are holding out. The Australian Education Act requires states and territories to commit to national agreements as a condition of getting federal money. It would also make a mockery of having “national goals” for education.

There has also already been a 12-month extension to the current agreement (which was due to expire at the end of 2023).

So the need to reach a deal – and start implementing these crucial improvements for schools – only continues to grow.

Paul Kidson does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Australian schools could get an extra $16 billion – but only if states reach a deal with Jason Clare by the end of September – https://theconversation.com/australian-schools-could-get-an-extra-16-billion-but-only-if-states-reach-a-deal-with-jason-clare-by-the-end-of-september-238194

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Leonora Risse, Associate Professor in Economics, University of Canberra

This article is part of The Conversation’s “Business Basics” series where we ask experts to discuss key concepts in business, economics and finance.

Today’s economic data shows that, outside of the pandemic, the Australian economy has slowed down to its lowest annual rate of growth since the early-1990s recession.

That’s prompting the dreaded question: are we headed for another one?

Any mention of the “R” word can trigger anxiety. Recessions bring job losses and financial strain, and put serious pressure on people’s mental health.

These impacts can be especially severe for people who are already experiencing disadvantage and vulnerabilities.

But what exactly does it mean to be in a recession? What are the different ways we define them? And are these current approaches the best way to measure people’s economic pain?

Read more:
This is the weakest economy outside of a recession. Here’s what the GDP figures show

What’s a recession?

A bit like the waves of the ocean, our economy is characterised by ebbs and flows in overall activity.

Spending and business growth can swell during times of confidence, but slow down when optimism deflates or the economy is hit by an unexpected shock such as a pandemic or climate disaster. This pattern is what economists describe as “the business cycle”.

Most of the time, our economy is constantly growing, even if the pace varies.

Conventionally, we measure this pace by tracking changes in the level of gross domestic product (GDP) – the overall volume of items and services being produced, bought and sold in the economy.

The latest economic growth rates of 0.2% for the June quarter, and 1% over the past year, tell us that the Australian economy is still growing, even if at a slower pace than previous years.

Occasionally, the economy slows down to such a grind that economic activity, from one quarter to the next, shrinks. When this happens, the GDP measurements come out negative.

When we have two negative measurements of GDP in a row, this is defined as a technical recession.

This is what happened to most countries around the globe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to the pandemic, Australia hadn’t experienced a technical recession since 1991.

The latest figures tell us Australia is staying afloat for now. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t feel like a recession to many people. Some other metrics show why.

Other measures of recession

Growth in economic activity is fuelled, in part, by a growing population. Dividing total economic output by the population size, GDP per capita can offer a more accurate picture of people’s economic reality.

This population-adjusted measure of economic growth has long fallen into negative territory. Today’s figures tell us that Australia’s GDP per person has been shrinking for 18 months. Our annual per capita growth rate is now -1.5%.

In the United States, recessions are measured differently again. Recessions are officially declared by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). Unlike technical recessions, these aren’t based on a simple rule.

NBER considers a range of measures beyond GDP – including personal income, employment, personal consumption, wholesale and retail sales, and industrial production across multiple sectors – when deciding whether to declare a US recession.

Is Australia heading for a recession?

This is a challenging question to answer because the GDP figures economists conventionally use to diagnose the situation only come to light after a recession hits.

Today’s economic figures from the ABS are for the June 2024 quarter – now more than two months old. Measurements of the current economic climate won’t come through in official statistics for some time.

If it occurs, by the time a recession is officially diagnosed, we’re usually well and truly in it.

A similar limitation applies to the retrospective approach of the NBER, which “waits until it is confident that a recession has occurred”.

It’s like a weather forecaster declaring a cyclone has hit only after the wind gusts have blown your roof away.

But we can use other metrics to alert ourselves to recession risks before the eye of the storm hits.

Using jobs numbers as a recession alert

One approach is the Sahm Rule, named after its creator, US economist Claudia Sahm.

By analysing patterns in the monthly unemployment data that preceded past recessions, Sahm devised a formula to detect when increases in the current unemployment rate were rapid enough to pose a recession risk.

The advantage of this approach is that unemployment statistics come out more quickly and frequently than GDP numbers.

Many would also argue that monitoring unemployment, rather than GDP, is a more meaningful metric to reflect people’s everyday experiences of the economy and wellbeing.

The Sahm approach tracks how quickly the national unemployment rate is currently rising compared to the past year.

It’s calculated by comparing the current three-month moving average of the national unemployment rate to this figure’s lowest value in the previous 12 months. This “moving average” approach smooths out the bumpiness of monthly figures.

A jump of 0.5% or more signals the economy’s current pattern is on the cusp of recession.

While the Sahm formula was developed for the US economy, it does a fairly good job of waving a red flag where recessions previously occurred in the Australian economy, too.

Australia’s latest unemployment rate – inching up to 4.2% in July 2024 – pushed the Sahm value up to 0.5%.

This indicator doesn’t necessarily mean that a recession will occur. But it suggests policymakers should be on high alert.

The Sahm indicator also validates the experiences of job seekers who – despite official definitions that the economy is not in recession – are personally feeling the pressures of a slowing economy and shrinking job opportunities.

As our approaches to measuring and managing the ups and downs of the economy continue to evolve, these people-centred metrics are an increasingly important part of our toolkit.

Leonora Risse receives research funding from the Trawalla Foundation and the Women’s Leadership Institute Australia. She is a member of the Economic Society of Australia and the Women’s in Economics Network. She serves as an Expert Panel Member on gender pay equity for the Fair Work Commission.

– ref. What’s a recession – and how can we tell if we’re in one? – https://theconversation.com/whats-a-recession-and-how-can-we-tell-if-were-in-one-238199

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Bartos, Professor of Economics, University of Canberra

The latest national accounts show the Australian economy is struggling. It’s what you would expect after the sharpest series of interest rate rises on record, and is more or less what the Reserve Bank was trying to achieve to bring down inflation.

Australia’s gross domestic product grew just 0.2% in the three months to June, after growing 0.2% in the previous three months (upgraded from an earlier estimate of 0.1%) and 0.2% the three months before that.

So low is the run of low growth that the economy grew just 1% over the year to June. That’s the lowest annual growth outside of a recession since the mid-1980s.

We are not in recession as commonly defined: two consecutive quarters of negative growth. Nor are we in the broader definition of a recession favoured by the Reserve Bank, one accompanied by a significant increase in unemployment.

That is actually one of the positives at present – unemployment remains low. Nevertheless, it feels like a recession for many Australians.

GDP per capita has been falling for six consecutive quarters. This means this measure of living standards has been falling for 18 months – a record since the Bureau of Statistics began publishing GDP per capita in the early 1970s.

Were it not for population growth, GDP would be going backwards. Population growth has been keeping the economy afloat.

Australians who oppose immigration might want to reflect on whether they would prefer a recession.

Public sector spending has also been shoring up the economy. It contributed 0.4 percentage points to the quarterly economic growth figure of 0.2%, meaning that without it the economy would have also gone backwards.

In the words of Treasurer Jim Chalmers at the national accounts press conference:

Without growth in government spending, there would have been no growth in the economy at all.

Chalmers said the weak growth figure

vindicates the approach we took in the budget and frankly torpedoes a lot of the free advice we got at budget time to cut harder and harsher.

Chalmers conceded that cutting government spending rather than expanding spending in the May budget would have brought inflation down faster, but said he wanted to do it in a way that didn’t “smash people or weaken an economy which is already very soft and subdued”.

Inflation is coming down, although the Reserve Bank says it is not yet confident it is moving sustainably towards its target range.

My assessment is that to make much of a difference to that trajectory the government would need to cut spending by billions of dollars, enough to bring on a recession. For obvious reasons, the government does not want that.

Consumer spending is very weak. Household spending per capita has declined for five out of the past six quarters.

In part, this is because of mortgage rate increases and also because wage growth has been unusually weak relative to price growth, cutting the amount households have to spend.

The national accounts confirm households have as good as stopped saving.

The household saving ratio remained at 0.6% of income. That’s way down from the peak of 24.1% reached during the COVID lockdowns.

Australia is hostage to overseas events. Weakness in the Chinese building industry is reducing demand for Australian iron ore and other exports, which has a flow-on effect on how our economy performs.

These are things about which we can do precisely nothing.

China’s population has been shrinking for two years now. It’s a good thing for the global environment, but means we are less likely to see the sustained and very high rates of Chinese housing construction that buoyed demand for Australian iron ore and other commodities in previous decades.

The terms-of-trade figures in the national accounts show the price Australia receives for what it sells overseas has been shrinking relative to the price it pays for what it buys from overseas for the past two quarters.

The only way to sustainably boost the economy while bringing down inflation is to lift productivity, the amount we produce per hour.

The national accounts show this measure of productivity fell again in the three months to June.

Innovation, more effective regulation, fostering more competition, and controlling monopolies can all help build productivity.

The government and its advisers know this. The tricky bit is doing it.

Stephen Bartos does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. This is the weakest economy outside of a recession. Here’s what the GDP figures show – https://theconversation.com/this-is-the-weakest-economy-outside-of-a-recession-heres-what-the-gdp-figures-show-236128

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Simon Darcy, Professor of Social Inclusion – UTS Business School – Co-Lead UTS Disability Research Network – Australian Centre for Olympic and Sport Studies – Centre for Sport, Business and Society, University of Technology Sydney

A record 4,400 athletes from more than 160 countries are competing in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, with 549 medal events across 22 sports.

To give an idea of how much the event has grown, at the 1964 Tokyo games there were 375 athletes from 21 countries competing in just nine events.

During this time, the Paralympics have evolved from an event for second world war military with spinal cord injuries to now welcoming ten different impairment types, managed using an athlete classification system.

Read more:
Explainer: how the Paralympics classification system keeps things fair

This chart demonstrates the growth of the Paralympic Games in terms of the number of athletes.

As we look at these statistics, it is important to note that this multi-sport mega event evolved from an idea of several advocates across the globe, the most celebrated of whom was Sir Ludwig Guttmann, a refugee to the United Kingdom from Nazi Germany, to use sport to aid medical rehabilitation.

Origins of the Paralympics

The second world war was devastating, not just in the number of those killed but also in the number of people who sustained injuries resulting in lifelong disability.

But improved medical treatments resulted in much higher survival rates, so there was a greater need for rehabilitation to ensure the injured military could be active members of society.

This led to a number of nations developing specialist spinal injuries centres, including the UK’s Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Aylesbury, England.

From 1944, the centre was led by the visionary Guttmann, who gained a reputation for innovative practice, both in medical rehabilitation and in motivating those with spinal cord injury.

Central to Guttmann’s approach was the use of sport in rehabilitation, which quickly evolved into a wheelchair sport competition.

The first was an archery event between hospital wards, with 14 male and two female competitors. The servicemen and women thrived on the physical outlet that competition provided.

However, Guttmann had a broader vision for the future of wheelchair sports.

These modest beginnings led to the creation of an annual Stoke Mandeville Games, first held on July 28, 1948.

Deliberately, this date was also the opening day of the 1948 London Olympic Games, with the two events held at the same time.

The first international competition occurred in 1952, when competitors from Holland were invited to compete in archery, table tennis, darts and snooker.

Eight years later (1960), Rome became the first city outside of Stoke Mandeville to host the games.

Yet it was not until Tokyo 1964 that the term “Paralympics” was officially used.

The evolution of the games

From 1960 to 1984, only two Paralympic Games were held in the same city as the Olympics: Rome 1960 and Tokyo 1964.

In 1988, this changed when the Paralympic and Olympic Games were both held in Seoul, Korea.

Here, for the first time, the host organising committees ensured Paralympic athletes competed in the same venues as the Olympic athletes, although housed in different villages.

The Seoul 1988 Games also helped spur the creation of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) in 1989, bringing together the four separate disability-specific organisations that had previously been represented in the International Co-Coordinating Committee Sports for the Disabled.

This was a significant step, allowing the IPC to evolve and forge closer links with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and future host cities.

The Atlanta 1996 Olympic and Paralympic Games, however, showed the frailty of the relationship, with appalling issues emerging during the village handover, no coordination between the organising committees and problems with the sports delivery program.

Four years later, the Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic games changed that trajectory and created a benchmark for the operational partnership between the organising committees.

Following the 2000 games, the first host city agreement between the IOC and IPC was signed, ensuring all games after Beijing 2008 would require bid cities to host both events.

The relationship between the IOC and the IPC was further consolidated prior to the Rio 2016 games with the signing of a memorandum of understanding extending the partnership up to the Brisbane 2032 Games.

Social inclusion and question marks

The vision of the IPC is to enable para athletes to “achieve sporting excellence and inspire and excite the world”, with hopes of being a catalyst for greater social inclusion.

Yet, critics suggest the rhetoric of these claims can fail people with disability within the host city and country.

Critics question whether the Paralympics lead to a legacy of improvement for people with disability in the host community, or if they only improve the material position of the elite athletes who participate.

Another example critics highlight is that while the IPC handbook and the IPC accessibility guidelines discuss the importance of improving host city accessibility and attitudes towards people with disability beyond the games, the IPC has not resourced studies to test these claims.

In part this may be because focusing on legacy is somewhat new.

London 2012 was the first to have social inclusion in bid documents and featured in the narrative leading up to the games. This broadened the focus beyond the field of play.

The lack of research may also be because most organising committees wrap up within months of the games ending.

An example of a broader social inclusion agenda beyond the games is #Wethe15 – a global collaboration of organisations advocating for people with disability.

Launched in the lead-up to the Tokyo 2020/21 Paralympic Games to promote social change, the campaign showed everyday life challenges, barriers, and frustrations of “the world’s 1.2 billion persons with disabilities” so they can be visible and active members of an inclusive society.

A second phase of the campaign was a #WeThe15 podcast series launched prior to Paris 2024.

As gold medal winning Paralympian and Australian broadcast co-host Kurt Fearnley said: “WeThe15 is about taking the voice of the people with disabilities to an international stage.

They don’t want to be seen as superhuman, they want to be seen as human, as equal, as being able to get a job, being able to access education.

The success of the #WeThe15 campaign will depend on how well the rest of society is able to create more accessible and inclusive societies, communities, workplaces, and sporting opportunities.

The Paris legacy and beyond

The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games has its opportunity to add another page in Paralympic history. As the IPC president Andrew Parsons recently stated

For the City of Paris, the improvements made over the last seven years have been fantastic. They should be regarded however as the starting point of an accessibility journey, rather than the end.

Has the Paris Games helped achieve Guttmann’s vision that people with disability may live fulfilling and engaged lives?

The final assessment will be made by the community of Parisiens with disability and those that visit the city in the future.

Simon Darcy in the past received funding from the Australian Sports Commission and the Australian Paralympic Committee. He currently holds an Australian Research Council Discovery Grant researching engaging outsiders in sport leading up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic games affiliated with Griffith University and the University of Technology Sydney. In 2023-2024 Simon was also a member of the Australian Sports Commission’s HP2032+ Inclusive Design Working Group.

David Legg receives funding from SSHRC which is Canadian Government associated granting agency.
I am the Past President of the International Federation of Adapted Physical Activity and Past President of the Canadian Paralympic Committee and presently volunteering with the International Paralympic Committee on a history project
I am a personal friend and colleague of Dr. Robert Steadward, founding President of the International Paralympic Committee

Barbara Almond and Tracey J Dickson do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Paris is adding another page to Paralympic history but what will its legacy be? – https://theconversation.com/paris-is-adding-another-page-to-paralympic-history-but-what-will-its-legacy-be-237550

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Powell, Professor, Family and Sexual Violence, RMIT University

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns has committed to a range of reforms strengthening legal responses to family violence across the state. These reforms follow the alleged murder of 28-year-old Molly Ticehurst by her former partner earlier this year.

A key plank of the new reforms is a revision of stalking laws in the state. This revision will recognise the increasing role technologies such as GPS trackers play in family violence.

These changes to the NSW stalking laws are welcome. But they may not be enough to address the widespread use of technology to stalk and harass people – especially women.

The reason is simple: too often police and courts don’t take tech-facilitated family violence seriously.

Tech-facilitated abuse is very common

Tech-faciliated abuse is a form of interpersonal violence that involves the use of mobile phones or other digital technologies to harass, monitor, abuse, cause fear, or otherwise inflict harm on someone. It is very common, with nearly half of all Australian adults experiencing at least one form of tech-facilitated abuse in their lifetime.

Some examples include hacking a “smart” speaker to listen in on a private conversation or using a GPS tracking device to monitor where a person is at any given time. In June, the NSW Crime Commission revealed 25% of people who had bought some kind of tracking device in the past 18 months had a history of domestic and family violence.

Australian research has identified several key features of tech-facilitated family violence.

For example, when women experience tech-facilitated abuse, it is often part of a pattern of other forms of abusive behaviour from a current or former partner. In other words, women’s experiences of tech-facilitated abuse often take place in the context of multiple forms of family violence, including controlling behaviours and physical assault.

Women victims of tech-facilitated abuse in family violence contexts also tend to experience high levels of distress and fear for their physical safety.

What is most concerning about the research into tech-facilitated family violence is that victim-survivors also often tell us they have been turned away by police when they’ve tried to report and seek assistance.

Even women who have a protection order in place say police are often reluctant to charge a perpetrator for breaching the order. That is, unless the breach is a physical assault or a physical trespass on her property.

These sorts of responses leave victim-survivors feeling that tech-facilitated abuse is not taken seriously. But all those repeated messages or voicemails, the doxing online, the tracking of a woman’s location, the spyware on her devices; these are clear red flags for physical violence.

What are the proposed reforms?

Currently, the law which governs stalking in NSW prohibits repeatedly following, watching, contacting and/or approaching a person to cause them fear of physical or mental harm. While this can include online behaviours, the revised law will more clearly specify this can include any technologically assisted means of doing so.

Other states across Australia have already made changes to stalking laws to clearly include tech-assisted means of abuse. In Victoria the laws specifically include the use of the internet or other electronic means to carry out stalking behaviours.

The proposed reforms in NSW also include new offences for serious and repeated breaches of a protection order. The government has also started an overhaul of bail decisions, including for people accused of serious domestic violence offences.

Police and courts need to take tech-facilitated abuse seriously

The National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022–2032 rightly tells us we need to hold people who use violence accountable.

But there remains a gap in programs to help men change their abusive behaviour.

Taking tech-facilitated family violence seriously would not only improve women’s safety – it might also provide the opportunity to intervene early with abusers.

Sadly, this isn’t happening.

Of course, there are examples of proactive policing and court responses that do take tech-facilitated family violence seriously.

But as many victim-survivors have often said, a protection order is only a piece of paper. It means nothing if the police don’t act on it when it is breached. And so the problem of tech-facilitated abuse may remain despite the proposed reforms in NSW. It is not necessarily one of insufficient laws, but rather a reluctance or lack of resources to act on the laws we already have.

If governments really want to turn the tide to address family violence in all its forms, they need to properly implement the actions under the National Plan.

That includes investing in well-trained police, specialist courts and legal services. It also includes investing in programs to change abuser behaviour, as well as funding family violence support workers.

It is not right for victim-survivors to be facing ongoing harassment from their abuser, while feeling that our legal and support systems have abandoned them.

The National Sexual Assault, Family and Domestic Violence Counselling Line – 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) – is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for any Australian who has experienced, or is at risk of, family and domestic violence and/or sexual assault.

Anastasia Powell receives funding from the Australian Research Council. Anastasia is also a director of Our Watch (Australia’s national organisation for the prevention of violence against women), and a member of the National Women’s Safety Alliance (NWSA).

– ref. New laws to tackle technology-based abuse in NSW are welcome. But police and courts also need to step up – https://theconversation.com/new-laws-to-tackle-technology-based-abuse-in-nsw-are-welcome-but-police-and-courts-also-need-to-step-up-238076

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Therésa Jones, Professor in Evolution and Behaviour, The University of Melbourne

As darkness falls, the nocturnal half of the animal kingdom starts its day. Nocturnal species are perfectly adapted to navigate and survive the dark of night that has existed for countless millions of years.

What happens to these creatures when the darkness they call home is transformed by streetlights and other artificial night lighting?

In new research published in Biology Letters, we studied how light pollution affects the development of Australian garden orb weaving spiders. We discovered it makes their brains smaller, particularly in the regions devoted to vision – with unknown effects on their behaviour.

What light pollution means for animals

Artificial light is one of the fastest-growing ways humans are polluting the world, and it has a huge range of effects on animals, plants and ecosystems. Recent evidence suggests the stress of living with light pollution may impair the growth and development of the brain in some birds and mammals.

This may be catastrophic. To survive in novel environments where light pollution is most common, such as cities, animals may actually need larger and more complex brains.

But what about insects and spiders and other, smaller creatures that inhabit the night? Could light pollution similarly affect the growth and development of their brains?

Our study on the nocturnal Australian garden orb weaving spider suggests it does.

More insects, but fewer offspring

The Australian garden orb weaving spider is a perfect species to explore this question. It lives happily in cities and rural areas where it constructs its webs each night in wide open areas (even under streetlights).

In previous studies we found urban spiders that build webs under streetlights catch more insect prey. We also showed that light at night has a cost because it accelerates juvenile development resulting in smaller adults that produce fewer offspring.

In this current study we investigated whether developing under light at night also affects brain size in males and females.

To explore this question, we took late-juvenile spiders from relatively dark parks in Melbourne, Australia and reared them in the laboratory until they were adults.

During rearing we kept half the spiders under darkness at night and exposed the other half to nocturnal lighting equivalent to the brightness of a streetlight.

Smaller brains, but why?

A few weeks after the spiders were fully grown we assessed whether light at night had affected the development of their brains. As a spider brain is around the size of the nib of a ballpoint pen (less than a cubic millimetre) we used micro-CT imaging technology to visualise what was inside.

We found that short-term exposure to light at night resulted in overall smaller spider brain volumes. The strongest effects were seen in the area of the brain linked to vision in the spider’s primary eyes.

These results are a first for invertebrates (animals with no backbone, such as insects and spiders), but they mirror what has been described in vertebrates. We can only speculate how these differences came about.

It is possible that the presence of light at night created a stressful environment that disrupted hormonal processes related to growth and development. However, if this was the case we might expect to see all parts of the brain affected, which was not the case.

An alternative explanation is that spiders forced to develop under light at night changed their “investment” in different parts of the brain. Proper brain function is essential for an animal to navigate its environment, so under stressful conditions, limited resources may be directed to the more important parts of the brain. For spiders that don’t rely on vision, like orb-weavers, they may compensate by reducing investment in the visual parts of the brain, as we found here.

Other invertebrates such as desert ants (Cataglyphis fortis) show similar “neuroplastic shifts” in the visual centre of their brain when they move from subterranean nest-tending to above-ground, vision-based foraging.

Why spiders – and their brains – matter

All this is quite interesting, but you might be wondering why we should care about light pollution affecting the size of a spider’s brain.

Well, spiders are very important in an ecosystem. They eat other invertebrates, including many pest species such as flies and mosquitoes. Spiders are also important prey for other predators, such as birds and lizards.

If spiders’ brains get smaller, it may affect their cognitive function and ability to perform these vital roles. We know from other species of birds and mammals that larger brains can help individuals survive in novel city environments and it is likely the same may be true for spiders.

This research also shows that the effects of light pollution on brain development extend to invertebrates as well as birds and mammals. The full effects of humanity’s love of artificial lighting are likely much bigger than we yet understand.

Therésa Jones receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

Nikolas Willmott received funding from the Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment, Ecological Society of Australia, and the Environmental Microbiology Research Initiative.

– ref. City light pollution is shrinking spiders’ brains – https://theconversation.com/city-light-pollution-is-shrinking-spiders-brains-238086

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Hunter, Senior Lecturer in Art and Performance, Deakin University

The City of Melbourne’s Now Or Never Festival has just finished its second year, packing an exciting and experimental ten-day punch with a focus on art, ideas, sound and technology.

The inaugural 2023 festival featured an eclectic and innovative program of works and included my personal favourite event, the divine Kali Malone on the grand organ at Melbourne Town Hall.

This year I attended three of the festival’s events, each one compelling and unique in its own way.

The artistry of PowerPoint

Federation Square’s Edge theatre was filled with joyful energy on Thursday night as six presenters took their turn onstage for Queer PowerPoint, in front of a large and very appreciative crowd.

The conceit of this delightfully comic and engaging show is simple: each presenter is given ten minutes to unpack a question, challenge a notion or share a particular fascination using that ubiquitous tool of 1980s corporate-speak: Microsoft PowerPoint.

Programmed and facilitated by artist/performers Harriet Gilles and Xanthe Dobbie, Queer PowerPoint has serious street cred as a cult hit which also featured at the Sydney Biennial. It’s a unique concept that repurposes the straitlaced domain of public speaking into a powerful way to share stories by and for diverse communities.

From impassioned diatribes about pigeons as underappreciated but toxically polyamorous partners, to hilarious and rapid-fire conspiratorial treatises that compare Ellen DeGeneres to Joan of Arc, Queer PowerPoint is smart, raucous and hugely inventive. Who knew the exploding text transitions embedded in this dowdy graphic interface could be so profoundly and creatively employed?

The show elevates PowerPoint to artistic heights, as spoken word intersects with gifs, images, diagrams, graphs, animations and text in a stupidly funny and extremely satisfying riot of information.

Soulful musicality in a sublime collaboration

On Friday, at the Capitol Theatre, I stared up at the beautifully tessellated ceiling designed by Walter Burley Griffin. The musicians began with a full, rich and resonant overture, before Uncle Kutcha Edwards entered with clapsticks.

This event, Wuigada – Gagada (To Sing – Loud), features First Nations songman and legend Kutcha Edwards, a Mutti Mutti, Yorta Yorta and Nari Nari man. The event is a testament to the Australian Art Orchestra’s rich legacy of creative alliances across cultures in its 30-year history.

Grounded in the orchestra’s trademark sonic experimentation, the collaboration is a moving and personal celebration of Uncle Kutcha’s soulful musicality.

The songs shift from big-band fat grooves, through to intense, reverberating jazz, and to delicate sonic moments supported by Ryan Williams’ spacious, breathy contrabass recorder and backing vocalist Hailey Cramer. But it’s Uncle Kutcha’s rich voice, compelling presence and potent vulnerability that make this performance so moving.

Perched on a stool, hands occasionally fluttering, eyes sometimes closed, he is a music master of the highest order. At the conclusion of the concert he stands and exhorts the audience in language – then sings the musicians off the stage.

His encore number, a quietly devastating reminder of the deep sadness still present in and through the Stolen Generations, crystallises into a gentler moment of feeling that demonstrates the lingering impact of past acts and the transformative power of music.

Visceral immersive and intense

In cacophonous contrast to Uncle Kutcha’s show is Desastres, Marco Fusinato’s solo performance held in the cavernous Studio 1 at Docklands.

As I enter the space, I’m met by an earthquake of power chords generated by a lone guitarist and his audio stacks silhouetted against three massive digital screens. Earplugs are provided but I remove them after a few minutes to really immerse myself – and my body – in the sound, which is visceral, vibrating up through my feet and chest.

Stark black and white images flash thick and fast across the screens, timed precisely to the sound, which pulses, shreds, slows and groans. The images – of skulls, leaves, ancient texts, ammunition, war zones, palimpsests of torn walls, and more – are too rapid and chaotic to retain in my conscious mind.

As Fusinato’s rhythmic and deafening pulses shift across the space, the wall of sound stutters to staccato. We experience a second or two of blissful silence before we are immersed in a sonic world of screeching bombs, single gunshots and blasts. It’s a shattering moment.

It is as intense as it sounds. Fusinato is a noise-musician, working with and from multiple sources. And despite the fractured onslaught of photos and flashes, there’s a coherence to the work: a careful and considered dramaturgy of light, dark, noise and image.

All three of the works I witnessed at Now or Never 2024 were captivating in different ways. Each one is also evidence of the thoughtful and provocative remit of the festival.

I leave feeling equal parts disrupted, enlivened and uplifted, pondering the imaginative ways in which the unfolding of language – spoken, visual, sonic, embodied – is made manifest through artistic practice.

If this success is anything to go by, Now Or Never could continue to be a compelling fixture in Melbourne’s festival calendar.

Kate Hunter does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. From Queer PowerPoint to sonic immersion: highlights from Melbourne’s experimental arts festival Now or Never – https://theconversation.com/from-queer-powerpoint-to-sonic-immersion-highlights-from-melbournes-experimental-arts-festival-now-or-never-237759

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lester Munson, Non-Resident Fellow, United States Studies Centre, University of Sydney

Six weeks ago, it was inconceivable that Vice President Kamala Harris would be in the driver’s seat of this year’s US presidential election.

Harris was the afterthought running mate of President Joe Biden, an historically unpopular incumbent. Donald Trump, having survived an assassination attempt by millimetres, had a commanding lead in a presidential race for the first time in his political career.

Republicans were also coming off a flawless national convention that gave a strong message of party unity and enthusiasm for Trump’s third consecutive run for the top office. Even the vice-presidential selection of Senator JD Vance, a recent convert to Trump’s nationalist project, was seen as evidence of the former president’s strength.

Yet this week, on the cusp of early voting, Harris leads Trump by nearly two percentage points in the RealClearPolitics national polling average and by 3.2 points in the FiveThirtyEight polling roundup.

Democrats, evidently ecstatic over Biden’s departure from the race, have embraced Harris’ relative youthfulness and vitality. Although she has a strong progressive track record, Harris’ popularity has soared as she has embraced moderate positions on energy, immigration and key foreign policy issues. Her vibe appears to be superhuman.

Does this mean Harris will run away with the presidency? Or can Trump get back in this race?

Flailing at the worst time

Since Harris’ ascendancy to the nomination (perhaps the fastest in modern American politics), Trump’s campaign has been flailing.

He questioned her racial identity before a group of Black journalists, a rhetorical manoeuvre that predictably landed with a thud. He has spent a couple of weeks flip‑flopping on abortion, enraging his pro‑life supporters.

Most recently, his maladroit campaign turned a visit to Arlington National Cemetery honouring service members killed during the US pullout from Afghanistan into a complete disaster. Harris and the media are slamming Trump for politicising the hallowed resting place of national heroes and even bullying the cemetery’s staff.

It may seem hopeless for the Republicans. The race, however, is not what it appears.

In fact, the candidates remain quite close in the critical swing states. The three “blue wall” states of Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania, in particular, are vital to Harris’ chances. Harris knows this and is even willing to campaign with Biden in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where his blue‑collar, working‑class appeal is greatest.

Each campaign is spending tens of millions on ads in Pennsylvania alone. They know that turning out their voters in that state could be the key to overall victory.

Loathe to lean into his advantage

Trump also has a latent advantage that may prove helpful in the end. On several key issues, he is still out‑polling Harris: the economy, inflation and immigration.

With Harris winning the vibes contest, Trump needs to break through with voters on these public policy matters. Trump will have the opportunity to do just that in the first presidential debate on September 10.

To reframe the race in his favour, he will have to show that Harris has herself shifted position on immigration and energy policy. In her only media interview since becoming the Democrats’ presidential nominee, for instance, Harris said she no longer supported a ban on fracking, which she had backed in 2019.

But can Trump manage this? So far, he has not demonstrated the discipline required to make this a race on policy. He appears to be more interested in competing on the vibes front, discussing who is better looking (Harris or himself) and who is attracting the biggest crowds to their speeches.

Trump’s top campaign advisers this year, Susie Wiles and Chris LaCavita, are a more accomplished and disciplined team than he has ever had. Through the Republican convention in July, the pair had successfully manoeuvred Trump, who had been deeply damaged by the January 6 insurrection, to a leading position against Biden. They orchestrated a near‑sweep of talented Republican challengers in the primaries and kept Trump’s focus on the issues that mattered to voters.

Rather than leaning into their advice, however, Trump appears to disengaging from his campaign managers’ steady hands. In recent weeks, he has also brought back Corey Lewandowski, who ran Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, sparking rumours of a campaign shake‑up.

Perhaps Trump’s near-death experience at the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July has made him want to do things “his way”. Perhaps he is tired of being managed. Perhaps he is alarmed by Harris’ gravity-defying rise in the polls.

In any case, he needs to return to a focus on the policy issues where he connects most with voters to get back on top of this race.

If he doesn’t, he’ll lose his second presidential campaign in a row.

Lester Munson works for BGR Group, a Washington consultancy and is a Non-Resident Fellow at the U.S. Studies Centre at the University of Sydney. He is a Republican who served as senior staff in the House and Senate and in the George W. Bush administration.

– ref. Kamala Harris’ campaign has taken off, but Donald Trump still has one advantage – if he can rein himself in – https://theconversation.com/kamala-harris-campaign-has-taken-off-but-donald-trump-still-has-one-advantage-if-he-can-rein-himself-in-237962

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hiruni Nuwanthika Kegalle, PhD Candidate in Computer Science, RMIT University

Melbourne City Council recently decided to ban shared e‑scooters. The council cited concerns for the safety of e‑scooter riders, other road users and pedestrians. The city still permits private e‑scooters.

However, another major concern for many has been where riders park the scooters, often blocking the footpath. Our recent analytical study in Melbourne showed a large proportion of e‑scooter trips start and end on footpaths, which pedestrians also use.

Research on e‑scooter trip data in two US cities found a strong link between e‑scooter use and busier urban areas, particularly in commercial districts.

In our ongoing research, we have interviewed e‑scooter riders, pedestrians, cyclists, the service provider Lime and local council members from four councils that are part of the e‑scooter trial with commercial operators. (These interviews were conducted before the ban was announced.) We wanted to gather their opinions and experiences – including about where e‑scooters should be parked.

This article explores these responses. Based on what the study participants told us, we recommend designated parking points as a condition of permitting shared e‑scooters to operate. The allocation of parking zones should be dynamic, so locations can change as local conditions and needs change.

Pedestrians want clear footpaths

Keeping footpaths clear is the priority for pedestrians.

When e‑scooters are abandoned on footpaths, they become obstacles. This makes it difficult for people to move freely. The problem particularly affects children, the elderly, vision-impaired and those who walk while looking at their phones.

It may be surprising that pedestrians also recognised that if parking zones for e‑scooters were too far away, it could make them less practical for riders and harder to find.

Riders value ease and convenience

Riders prefer to park e‑scooters close to their destinations.

Our analysis of trip data indicates e‑scooters are often used for morning commutes. A higher percentage of trips start in residential areas and end in office zones during peak commuting times. This trend also suggests riders are using e‑scooters as a first-mile/last-mile solution at either end of their commute.

Further analysis of e‑scooter parking patterns across different path types —footpaths, cycle lanes and shared paths — reveals footpaths are the most heavily used for parking.

E‑scooter companies driven by data

E‑scooter companies want to make it convenient and easy for potential riders to find and use their e‑scooters. That makes sense, as more uses mean more profit.

Guided by data analysis of past patterns of use, the companies deploy their e‑scooters in areas of high demand to ensure they’re available where trips most commonly start. They also work with local event organisers, such as those hosting sporting matches, to position e‑scooters at key locations when needed and ensure they are safely parked.

The operators accept that rider behaviour presents a major challenge. They run programs to educate riders on local rules and encourage them to obey these rules.

They have also proposed the use of designated parking areas. This would mean riders are allowed to park only at certain locations. Preferably, these would be places with enough space such as wide street corners, near public transport stops and close to existing bike racks.

According to service providers, a trial of designated parking zones over eight streets in Melbourne was successful.

A Lime employee told us:

The trial, we’ve had 98% compliance and 78% of people on their first try trying to end the ride on the pin, which is huge compared to the rest of the world. So, Melbourne riders are definitely very compliant and they’re willing to do that.

Local councils concerned about parking

Local council employees, responding to pedestrian complaints, suggest using underutilised urban spaces for e‑scooter parking. They propose these areas should be easy to access but carefully positioned to avoid causing new congestion issues.

A City of Port Philip employee told us:

Parking is something that we will need to consider – how we allocate space for proper parking for these devices going forward. And that will help resolve a lot of issues for pedestrians using that footpaths space, [including] persons with a disability that may be finding some difficulties. We may have geofenced an area and said that this is a no‑parking or this is a no‑riding zone. So we try to adapt and learn from our community as well as just from our own instinct.

They added:

We are all learning; this is new. It’s all about finding the right balance.

Cyclists see the parallels

Cyclists suggested setting up designated parking zones similar to bike racks.

Overseas cities, such as Mitte in Germany, Vancouver in Canada and San Francisco in the United States, have introduced designated parking points for e‑scooters. These cities insist on a docking system as a condition of permitting shared e‑scooters.

Finding a balance

It is important to strike a balance between having parking zones close to popular destinations and keeping footpaths and public spaces clear.

To achieve this, we need to look beyond just patterns of e‑scooter use. There’s a need to investigate factors like how people and vehicles move, nearby attractions and public transport links. By considering all these elements, we can choose parking spots that are both convenient and safe for everyone.

We also recommend allocated parking zones be changeable in response to factors like the time of day, weekdays, special events and seasonal changes. A dynamic system can better respond to riders’ varying needs, providers’ operational requirements and pedestrians’ safety concerns.

The mobile app could then guide riders to these designated parking zones. This will ensure e‑scooter parking remains both convenient and safe for everyone.

Hiruni Nuwanthika Kegalle receives funding from the Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society, which is funded by the Australian Government through the Australian Research Council (CE200100005). Data used for e-scooter trip analysis was kindly provided by Lime.

Danula Hettiachchi receives funding from the Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society, which is funded by the Australian Government through the Australian Research Council (CE200100005). Lime kindly provided access to e-scooter usage data in Melbourne for the research.

Flora Salim receives funding from the Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society (ADM+S), which is funded by the Australian Research Council (CE200100005). Lime provided access to the dataset and in-kind access to their expertise in conducting the final review of the research papers cited in the article.

Mark Sanderson receives funding from the Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society, which is funded by the Australian Government through the Australian Research Council (CE200100005). Data used in e-scooter use analysis was kindly provided by Lime.

– ref. We asked Melburnians about shared e-scooters. Their responses point to alternatives to the city council’s ban – https://theconversation.com/we-asked-melburnians-about-shared-e-scooters-their-responses-point-to-alternatives-to-the-city-councils-ban-237755

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gary Mortimer, Professor of Marketing and Consumer Behaviour, Queensland University of Technology

You have probably opened your smartphone using your face. If you have travelled internationally, you have used your face to exit and enter the country. You may have even scanned your face to “verify” your online dating profile. But are you willing to use your face to pay for your morning coffee?

While facial recognition technology isn’t new, facial recognition payment technology (FRPT) is – and it’s growing very quickly.

An estimated 495 million Chinese shoppers used FRPT in 2021 – roughly one third of China’s population. In 2025, financial institutions such as JPMorgan Chase and Japan’s NEC Corporation plan to implement FRPT.

But will Australian and New Zealand shoppers adopt the technology so readily?

The psychology of face payment

Our new research delved into the psychological factors that may encourage shoppers to try FRPT.

According to the basic psychological need theory, people have three basic needs when adopting a new technology: autonomy (a sense of mastery and control over the technology), competence (the sense of integrity, reliability and trust in the technology) and relatedness (a sense of belonging or familiarity with the technology).

We conducted 21 in-depth interviews with potential users to find out what might motivate them to embrace the technology – and what might put them off.

Shoppers’ autonomy and competence were satisfied if they had access to information, considered the technology convenient, trusted the retailer and were offered an incentive. Subsequently, they were willing to trial and adopt FRPT.

Our research participants gained knowledge in multiple ways, including general internet sources, news websites, social media and the retailer itself.

Convenience factors, such as assured fast payments, ease of use and time saving enhanced participants’ competence. As one said:

Yeah, I can see that if [FRPT] does encompass everything, that it probably would be more convenient, and as long as it works first time it would probably be quicker as well.

The brand name, reputation, customer care and regular engagement with the retailer influenced greater levels of trust for shoppers. This in turn affected their FRPT trial intentions. Another told us:

I trust Woolworths more, compared to […] a small shop or not a national brand. Because I believe Woolworths will keep their image, they are going to take care of the customer data and their image.

Finally, promotional rewards such as incentives, discounts or gifts for using FRPT enhanced autonomy and encouraged trialling intention.

Four barriers to adoption

Shoppers were less willing to trial and adopt FRPT if they were not familiar with the retailer, were satisfied with existing payment methods, perceived a lack of assistance, and were concerned about overspending.

When shoppers were unfamiliar with a retailer or brand, they are more sceptical and unsure about FRPT. As one person told us:

If you never heard of it, then you might be a bit sceptical as a whole. [If] I haven’t really heard of this retailer, I haven’t really heard of this system […] what is your purpose for this new technology?

Shoppers were found to have preferred payment methods and these were found to reduce their FRPT adoption due to a reduced sense of autonomy.

I don’t think I’d use it. I think I’d still just like tap my card, or maybe if I had set up my phone properly do it that way.

Physical stores were the most preferred location to trial FRPT, as opposed to online. Within a physical environment, potential users of FRPT could seek support from employees. As one research participant explained:

I definitely think try in a shop first […] I just think if something goes wrong, there is normally someone there that can sort it out.

An interesting finding was the apprehension expressed regarding overspending and compulsive consumption. As one participant explained:

FRPT could be bad because then I’ve got no way of saying “I don’t have money on me”. That is when you always have an open purse […] Yeah, sadly facial recognition is always there.

Privacy and security were a double-edged sword. Some shoppers were willing to adopt if privacy and security were assured. Others were concerned about facial image storage and data breaches. As one said:

I think, compared to a credit card or cash, [FRPT is] absolutely more secure […] Scammers would have to know a lot more about me to fake my face.

While another said:

I do not think I would use it at all. You probably wouldn’t hear if a supermarket got hacked into and all the data leaked, so and that’s out of your control […] I probably wouldn’t trust it.

Calming consumer concerns

Retailers still have a long way to go to convince consumers to make transactions by scanning their faces. Our new research offers some directions forward.

Considering consumers’ concerns about technologies such as deepfakes and other uses of biometric data, retailers should communicate their advanced technology or collaborate with reputable FRPT developers.

Retailers who want to use FRPT need to implement in-store signage, point-of-purchase graphics and on-screen videos to communicate the benefits of FRPT. They should also focus on articulating the convenience elements of FRPT, as well as the security and privacy protocols.

Once they are trialling the technology, retailers will need to deploy extra staff to assist customers, and offer promotional incentives, possibly tied to loyalty programs.

An “alert limit” – in the same way credit card providers limit “tap and go” payment over a certain value – might help mitigate overspending risks.

The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Paying with your face: what will convince consumers to use facial recognition payment technology? – https://theconversation.com/paying-with-your-face-what-will-convince-consumers-to-use-facial-recognition-payment-technology-237646

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Jefferson, Senior Lecturer in Education, Edith Cowan University

It’s become a ritual in our family – after a long day at his rowing regatta, my 17-year-old son and I get fast food on the way home. I am sure there are far more nutritious ways to replace the calories he’s burned. But I make no apologies for the pit stop.

The food is a treat for trying hard all day – rather than whatever place he might have come. I am also sure my son would still compete if there were no hot chips to follow, as he loves the sport.

But parents are often offering their children rewards for to encourage or discourage all sorts of behaviours. They do this from a very young age.

Think of the star chart on the fridge for the 18-month-old to use a potty. Or the ice cream for dessert if homework is done, or a goal is scored at football. For older kids, there might be financial rewards for As in exams.

Is this the best thing to do?

It seems natural to offer a reward

Parents offer rewards because they think it will help a child reach a desired goal.

Kids often need encouragement to do the right thing, even when they absolutely do not feel like doing it. One of our main jobs as parents is to help children learn how to behave, find coping mechanisms when times are tough and reach their potential.

The rewards approach is also used in school classrooms. Kids are offered inducements such as stickers, stamps, early marks and free time if they finish early or do what they are told.

The problem with this (even though kids tend to love it) is it may change the behaviour in the moment, but it’s unlikely to change anything long term.

It means children are working for a reward, rather than engaging with learning or taking their own initiative.

A narrow view of success

By using reward in this way, we paint “success” as a specific outcome, rather than the effort a child or student puts in.

It’s also arguable managing failure is just as important as achieving success. Offering stickers is not going to build psychological resilience or teach kids how to hold space for big feelings or self compassion.

We also know socioemotional and academic development varies wildly for children and teenagers. So definitions of “success” should be flexible enough to accommodate this.

How to frame success for your child

If we want to set young people up as lifelong learners – who will be self-motivated and able to manage their emotions – education and psychology research tells us there are healthier ways to approach success.

Talk about effort not success

This means you are focusing on the process, not the end result. This is more within a child’s control. For instance, if the child is competing in sport, keep the conversation on the number of times they have trained, rather than whether they got a particular time or place.

If they are doing an important exam, focus on how much they have progressed during the year to get to this point, rather than a certain grade.

Focus on what intrinsically drives a kid

By supporting our children in their passions, we also take a strengths-based approach. This means honing in on existing passions, rather than hassling them about problems or things they are less enthused about.

It remains a mystery to me why you would want to climb out of bed at 4.45am to row on icy water. But my son loves to keep fit and be with this friends. It is also a good outlet for any teenage tendencies towards risk-taking. So this means supporting his need to connect, belong and push himself physically (even if it does mean some very early car trips to training).

But another child might be fascinated by playing chess, cheerleading or cooking. These can all involve communication, negotiation, skill development, patience and detailed processes. So success – if and when it comes – is just a bonus.

Keep your love and care unconditional

You may be proud of your kids for achieving something big (such as a certificate at school assembly, or a good grade in a music exam). But your love and care for them should not change.

By the same token, if they get sent out of assembly for talking or never practise the violin, your love and care also does not change.

Don’t say harsh and hurtful things

We all get frustrated with our kids. We all wish they would just do what they need to so we can all get through our day.

But unfortunately, you are the grown up. So, phrases like, “and THIS is why you won’t make the team” or “why you can’t you be more organised like sibling A or B?” are also profoundly unhelpful. They can undermine your child’s self-esteem and confidence. Even if you think it, do not say it.

So, by all means, give your child a treat. And celebrate special occasions. But try to avoid consistently offering rewards as incentives to do or achieve certain things.

Sarah Jefferson does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Should you reward kids for success? Or is there a better way to talk about achievement? – https://theconversation.com/should-you-reward-kids-for-success-or-is-there-a-better-way-to-talk-about-achievement-237972

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Melissa Eaton, Accredited Practising Dietitian; PhD Candidate, University of Wollongong

We live in a society that glorifies dieting, with around 42% of adults globally having tried to lose weight. Messages about dieting and weight loss are amplified on social media, with a never-ending cycle of weight loss fads and diet trends.

Amid often conflicting messages and misinformation, if you’re looking for diet advice online, it’s easy to become confused and overwhelmed.

So before diving into the latest weight loss trend or extreme diet, consider these four questions to help you make a more informed decision.

1. Is the diet realistic?

Have you considered the financial cost of maintaining the diet or lifestyle, and the time and resources that would be required? For example, do you need to purchase specific products, supplements, or follow a rigid meal plan?

If the diet is coming from someone who is trying to sell you something – such as a particular weight-loss product you need in order to follow the diet – this could be a particular red flag.

Many extreme diet recommendations come from a place of privilege and overlook food access, affordability, cooking skills, where you live, or even your culture and ethics.

If the diet has these sorts of issues it can lead to frustration, stress, stigmatisation and feelings of failure for the person trying to adhere to the diet. But the problem may be with the diet itself – not with you.

2. Is there evidence to support this diet?

Self-proclaimed “experts” online will often make claims focused on specific groups, known as target populations. This might be 30- to 50-year-old men with diabetes, for example.

In some cases, evidence for claims made may come from animal studies, which might not be applicable to humans at all.

So be aware that if research findings are for a group that doesn’t match your profile, then the results might not be relevant to you.

It takes time and a lot of high-quality studies to tell us a “diet” is safe and effective, not just one study. Ask yourself, is it supported by multiple studies in humans? Be critical and question the claims before you accept them.

For accurate information look for government websites, or ask your GP or dietitian.

3. How will this diet affect my life?

Food is much more than calories and nutrients. It plays many roles in our lives, and likewise diets can influence our lives in ways we often overlook.

Socially and culturally, food can be a point of connection and celebration. It can be a source of enjoyment, a source of comfort, or even a way to explore new parts of the world.

So when you’re considering a new diet, think about how it might affect meaningful moments for you. For example, if you’re going travelling, will your diet influence the food choices you make? Will you feel that you can’t sample the local cuisine? Or would you be deterred from going out for dinner with friends because of their choice of restaurant?

4. Will this diet make me feel guilty or affect my mental health?

What is your favourite meal? Does this diet “allow” you to eat it? Imagine visiting your mum who has prepared your favourite childhood meal. How will the diet affect your feelings about these special foods? Will it cause you to feel stressed or guilty about enjoying a birthday cake or a meal cooked by a loved one?

Studies have shown that dieting can negatively impact our mental health, and skipping meals can increase symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Many diets fail to consider the psychological aspects of eating, even though our mental health is just as important as physical health. Eating should not make you feel stressed, anxious, or guilty.

So before starting another diet, consider how it might affect your mental health.

Moving away from a dieting mindset

We’re frequently told that weight loss is the path to better health. Whereas, we can prioritise our health without focusing on our weight. Constant messages about the need to lose weight can also be harmful to mental health, and not necessarily helpful for physical health.

Our research has found eating in a way that prioritises health over weight loss is linked to a range of positive outcomes for our health and wellbeing. These include a more positive relationship with food, and less guilt and stress.

Our research also indicates mindful and intuitive eating practices – which focus on internal cues, body trust, and being present and mindful when eating – are related to lower levels of depression and stress, and greater body image and self-compassion.

But like anything, it takes practice and time to build a positive relationship with food. Be kind to yourself, seek out weight-inclusive health-care professionals, and the changes will come. Finally, remember you’re allowed to find joy in food.

Yasmine Probst receives funding from Multiple Sclerosis Australia and has previously received funding from various industry groups primarily from food-based organisations. She is presently affiliated with the National Health and Medical Research Council, Multiple Sclerosis Plus and Multiple Sclerosis Limited.

Melissa Eaton and Verena Vaiciurgis do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Thinking of trying a new diet? 4 questions to ask yourself before you do – https://theconversation.com/thinking-of-trying-a-new-diet-4-questions-to-ask-yourself-before-you-do-237766

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachael Taylor, Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Otago

Parents of children and teenagers have long been warned about the dangers of screen time and digital devices before bed – the worry being that screens could harm the sleep patterns of young people.

But do screens really hurt the length and quality of sleep?

Our new research (link to come) found that using screens in bed was worse for sleep than using screens for hours before going to bed.

Sleep guidelines recommend no screen use in the hour or two before bed. But we found screen time in the two hours before bed had little impact on young people’s sleep. Instead, it was screen time once in bed that caused problems.

Using cameras to track device usage and sleep, we found using a device in bed could cause more harm than screen time right up to bedtime.

These findings challenge long-held assumptions about screen time at night and could help parents improve the quality of their children’s sleep.

Connecting sleep and screens

A number of global organisations recommend adolescents stop using devices in the hour or two before bed, and instead undertake activities like reading a book or quiet time with the family.

But these recommendations are based on research with a number of limitations. The studies were designed in such a way that researchers could link sleep and screens. But they don’t tell us if changes in how young people used screens had an affect on the length or quality of sleep.

Most of the existing research also used questionnaires to assess both screen time and sleep. Questionnaires are unlikely to capture true screen time accurately, particularly if you are interested in knowing more than just how long an adolescent has spent on their device.

To address some of these weaknesses in the previous research, we asked 85 adolescents aged between 11 and 14 to wear a body camera on their chest for the three hours before bed, for four nights.

These cameras faced outwards and accurately captured when, what and how adolescents used their screens. Because we were interested in overnight screen time as well, a second infrared camera was placed on a tripod in the teenagers bedroom and captured their screen time while in bed. The research participants also wore an actigraph – a watch-sized device that objectively measured screen time.

Teen nighttime activity

It quickly became obvious the adolescents spent a lot of their screen time while in bed.

Our analysis looked at two time periods – from the two hours before they got into bed, and from once they were in bed (clearly under the covers) until they put their devices down and were clearly trying to go to sleep.

Our data showed 99% of the adolescents used screens in the two hours before bed, more than half once they were in bed, and a third even after first trying to go to sleep for the night. Just one teenager did not use screens before bed on any of the four nights.

The screen time before they got into bed had little impact on their sleep that night. However, screen time once in bed did impair their sleep. It stopped them from going to sleep for about half an hour, and reduced the amount of sleep they got that night.

This was particularly true for more interactive screen activities like gaming and multitasking – when they use more than one device at the same time (like watching a movie on Netflix on a laptop while playing Xbox on a gaming device).

In fact, every additional ten minutes of this type of screen time reduced the amount of sleep they got that night by almost the same amount – nine minutes.

Revisiting guidelines

Our research was an observational study looking at the established screen habits of young people.

The next step to better understanding this will be to conduct experiments that can actually prove different types and timings of screen time affect sleep.

That said, what we have already found challenges existing guidelines. Screens at night may not be the bogey man they have been made out to be. But allowing young people to have screens in bed can be detrimental to their quality of sleep.

So the simple message might be to keep those devices out of the bedroom.

Rachael Taylor receives funding from Lottery Health New Zealand.

– ref. It’s almost impossible to keep teens off their phones in bed – but new research shows it really does affect their sleep – https://theconversation.com/its-almost-impossible-to-keep-teens-off-their-phones-in-bed-but-new-research-shows-it-really-does-affect-their-sleep-237955

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Loughran, Director Radiation Research and Advice (ARPANSA), and Adjunct Associate Professor (UOW), University of Wollongong

A systematic review into the potential health effects from radio wave exposure has shown mobile phones are not linked to brain cancer. The review was commissioned by the World Health Organization and is published today in the journal Environment International.

Mobile phones are often held against the head during use. And they emit radio waves, a type of non-ionising radiation. These two factors are largely why the idea mobile phones might cause brain cancer emerged in the first place.

The possibility that mobile phones might cause cancer has been a long-standing concern. Mobile phones – and wireless tech more broadly – are a major part of our daily lives. So it’s been vital for science to address the safety of radio wave exposure from these devices.

Over the years, the scientific consensus has remained strong – there’s no association between mobile phone radio waves and brain cancer, or health more generally.

Radiation as a possible carcinogen

Despite the consensus, occasional research studies have been published that suggested the possibility of harm.

In 2011, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified radio wave exposure as a possible carcinogen to humans. The meaning of this classification was largely misunderstood and led to some increase in concern.

IARC is part of the World Health Organization. Its classification of radio waves as a possible carcinogen was largely based on limited evidence from human observational studies. Also known as epidemiological studies, they observe the rate of disease and how it may be caused in human populations.

Observational studies are the best tool researchers have to investigate long-term health effects in humans, but the results can often be biased.

The IARC classification relied on previous observational studies where people with brain cancer reported they used a mobile phone more than they actually did. One example of this is known as the INTERPHONE study.

This new systematic review of human observational studies is based on a much larger data set compared to what the IARC examined in 2011.

It includes more recent and more comprehensive studies. This means we can now be more confident that exposure to radio waves from mobile phones or wireless technologies is not associated with an increased risk of brain cancer.

No association

The new review forms part of a series of systematic reviews commissioned by the World Health Organization to look more closely at possible health effects associated with exposure to radio waves.

This systematic review provides the strongest evidence to date that radio waves from wireless technologies are not a hazard to human health.

It is the most comprehensive review on this topic – it considered more than 5,000 studies, of which 63, published between 1994 and 2022, were included in the final analysis. The main reason studies were excluded was that they were not actually relevant; this is very normal with search results from systematic reviews.

No association between mobile phone use and brain cancer, or any other head or neck cancer, was found.

There was also no association with cancer if a person used a mobile phone for ten or more years (prolonged use). How often they used it – either based on the number of calls or the time spent on the phone – also didn’t make a difference.

Importantly, these findings align with previous research. It shows that, although the use of wireless technologies has massively increased in the past few decades, there has been no rise in the incidence of brain cancers.

A good thing

Overall, the results are very reassuring. They mean that our national and international safety limits are protective. Mobile phones emit low-level radio waves below these safety limits, and there is no evidence exposure to these has an impact on human health.

Despite this, it is important that research continues. Technology is developing at a rapid pace. With this development comes the use of radio waves in different ways using different frequencies. It is therefore essential that science continues to ensure radio wave exposure from these technologies remains safe.

The challenge we now face is making sure this new research counteracts the persistent misconceptions and misinformation out there regarding mobile phones and brain cancer.

There remains no evidence of any established health effects from exposures related to mobile phones, and that is a good thing.

Sarah Loughran receives funding from The National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (NHMRC). She is the Director of Radiation Research and Advice at the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), a member of the Scientific Expert Group at the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), and a member of the World Health Organisation Task Group on Radiofrequency Fields and Health Risks.

Ken Karipidis is the Assistant Director of Health Impact Assessment at the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency and he is also the Vice Chair of the International Commission of Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection.

– ref. Mobile phones are not linked to brain cancer, according to a major review of 28 years of research – https://theconversation.com/mobile-phones-are-not-linked-to-brain-cancer-according-to-a-major-review-of-28-years-of-research-237882

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

Mike Burgess is highly respected by both Labor and Liberal politicians. When they talk about him, they nearly always throw in praise, sometimes fulsome.

That’s to the good for the ASIO chief, because if he were less well regarded he’d have been in even more trouble for the tangle he got himself into trying to explain when a fleeing Gazan might or might not be judged a security risk.

After weeks of controversy, Burgess has now attempted to clean up the mess he left after his ABC Insiders interview last month.

Predictably, however, that’s just set off another round of the row between the opposition and Labor over the visas-for-Gazans issue.

Burgess says people chose to “distort” his initial comments. Perhaps, but the lesson is clear. If the head of a security organisation gives a major interview, they need to make sure what they say is crystal clear, to minimise the risk of any such “distortion”.

Usually, people in these roles live in the shadows, but Burgess obviously likes to be out in the open, arguing the importance of transparency and the need “to explain the threats to the people you protect”. That inevitably carries the risk of becoming part of the political argy-bargy.

Burgess told Insiders on August 11 that if a person expressed “just rhetorical support [for Hamas], and they don’t have an ideology or support for a violent extremism ideology, then that’s not a problem. If they have a support for that ideology that will be a problem” in relation to a security assessment.

This distinction raised some eyebrows. One, albeit not the only, reason was because Burgess didn’t emphasise adequately the distinction between an ASIO security assessment and visa assessments, which come under Home Affairs. The latter involve a “character” test, apart from (if appropriate) a security one.

Burgess is now back on ABC television, this time with a 7.30 interview that is yet to air. In his latest remarks, he has toughened and made more specific what he says ASIO will judge negatively for security purposes.

“If you think terrorism is OK, if you think the destruction of the State of Israel is OK, if you think Hamas and what they did on the 7th of October is OK, I can tell you that is not OK, and from an ASIO security assessment point of view, you will not pass muster.

“We focus on: Are you a threat to security, a direct or indirect threat to security? And if we find you such, we will do an adverse security assessment, which would result in you not getting a visa, most likely.”

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton welcomed Burgess’s clarification, but seized the opportunity to again accuse Anthony Albanese of misleading parliament by “suggesting that ASIO had checked each of these [Gazan] individuals – which they haven’t”.

“I think he’s put Mr Burgess in a difficult position. I think, frankly, the prime minister should be apologising to the ASIO boss for what they’ve put in place, which has made ASIO’s job much harder.”

Coalition home affairs spokesman James Paterson said he had assumed all along Burgess’s latest comments were the views he held.

“I didn’t think that he thought it was a good idea to bring Hamas supporters into our country,” Paterson said.

“My criticism and the opposition’s criticism has always been focussed on the government. And frankly, that criticism is even more acute today because what Mike Burgess has now said is that bringing Hamas supporters into our country is not a good idea, because they are a threat to our national security.”

Albanese hit back at the opposition, accusing it of undermining Burgess’s work. “It’s extraordinary, frankly, that the Coalition went into question time day after day after day and through their questioning, were questioning Mike Burgess’ determination to keep Australians safe.”

The PM reiterated that Burgess had his total confidence.

Oh and, “Mike Burgess is a big boy – he can speak for himself and he has,” Albanese said.

He didn’t say whether he wished the ASIO head had spoken a little less, or a little better, on Insiders.

Michelle Grattan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. View from The Hill: ASIO chief seeks to dig out of the hole he’d made for himself – https://theconversation.com/view-from-the-hill-asio-chief-seeks-to-dig-out-of-the-hole-hed-made-for-himself-238081

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Welch, Senior Lecturer in Urban Planning, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau

The government’s new National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) could easily have been renamed the “highway funding project”, given its intense focus on road building.

Released yesterday, the plan outlines funding priorities for the next three years. If it comes to fruition, much of the spending will be driven into major highway schemes, and steered away from sustainable transport alternatives for the main cities.

The programme allocates NZ$7 billion for state highway improvements between now and 2027, most of which goes to the newest iteration of the so-called Roads of National Significance (RoNS). On top of this massive highway bill, the programme gives another $1 billion in contingency funding to accelerated planning of the RoNS.

But the total $8 billion price tag doesn’t actually buy new highways. The roads are several years, if not decades, away from becoming a reality. Instead, these funds will be dedicated to extensive planning, design and preparatory work, rather than actual construction.

For many of those road projects, the current NLTP period focuses on route protection, environmental assessments, property acquisition and preliminary designs.

The State Highway 1 Warkworth-to-Wellsford project, for instance, will only begin construction late in this NLTP period. Others, like the East-West Link and State Highway 29 Tauriko West projects, are still in the development and route protection stages.

Even more telling, projects such as the State Highway 16 North-West alternative highway won’t see any construction during this NLTP period. Nor will the State Highway 6 Hope Bypass in Nelson, which won’t break ground until 2029.

Funding the status quo

The approach effectively commits billions in taxpayer dollars to preparatory work without delivering any tangible infrastructure improvements. New Zealanders will likely find themselves stuck in worsening traffic, waiting for highways that may never materialise.

These projects could easily be sidelined by future budget constraints or changing political priorities. A growing recognition of induced demand – where new roads generate more traffic rather than alleviate congestion – and the looming challenges of climate change risk these carbon-intensive projects being obsolete before they even begin.

Meanwhile, projects that could address far more severe congestion in the main cities are being cut back or indefinitely postponed.

Transport Minister Simeon Brown’s election promise to prioritise mending potholes – essentially a rebranding of standard road maintenance – will also significantly affect transport funding.

In all, a staggering $10.06 billion will be spent maintaining and operating the overbuilt road network, including:

• $2.07 billion allocated for state highway pothole prevention

• $2.3 billion for state highway operations

• $3.44 billion for local road pothole prevention

• $2.25 billion for local road operations.

This enormous sum, mainly dedicated to preserving the status quo, raises questions about the financial sustainability and efficiency of our current transport infrastructure model.

Back seat for public transport

The road-building focus of the new NLTP will draw funding away from projects that offer the best bet of reducing urban congestion, lowering the number of road deaths and meaningfully curbing transport emissions.

The programme pulls the plug on new cycling and walking projects, furthering the culture war Brown ignited when he took the reins as transport minister. Announcing his plan, he claimed New Zealanders were “sick and tired of the amount of money going into cycleways”.

A mere $460 million is allocated for walking and cycling over the entire three-year period, a fraction of the billions earmarked for highways.

This also represents a significant decrease from previous NLTP periods, with the document merely stating there is “no available funding for new projects” in this area.

With the focus on completing already committed projects and maintaining existing infrastructure, it’s a clear signal active transport modes have been pushed aside in favour of the government’s asphalt aspirations.

Public transport funding also falls prey to the new highway building programme. While the NLTP allocates $3.73 billion for public transport services and $2.64 billion for infrastructure, the lion’s share of this is earmarked for maintaining existing services, with very little left for expansion.

Roads to nowhere?

There is no grand vision for public transport. A mere $136 million is allocated for service improvements across the entire country. Auckland, already choking on traffic, gets a mere $100 million. Christchurch gets $8 million.

Even more alarming is the expectation of increased fare revenue and third-party funding for public transport. The transport plan involves squeezing more money out of commuters already struggling with the cost-of-living, while simultaneously starving the system of the investment it needs.

Auckland’s Northwest Rapid Transit corridor has been left dangling, its fate tied to “additional funding availability”. The message seems clear: highways are a necessity, but efficient urban transit is a luxury.

This NLTP isn’t just a missed opportunity, it’s a deliberate U-turn away from the sustainable, efficient urban transport systems the cities need. Rather than investing in New Zealanders having a genuine choice in how they move in the future, it shackles them to a car-dependent past – one pothole-free highway at a time.

Timothy Welch does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Spinning its wheels: the new national transport plan steers NZ back to a car-dependent past – https://theconversation.com/spinning-its-wheels-the-new-national-transport-plan-steers-nz-back-to-a-car-dependent-past-238066

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Russell Fewster, Lecturer in Performing Arts, University of South Australia

For Jack Hibberd, writing plays came from an “geographical accident”. As a young medical intern in the 1960s, he “fell in with the bohemian” Carlton Melbourne milieu that saw something in his poetry that suggested “monologues of a theatrical quality”.

These “bohemian” friends would later to go on to coalesce around La Mama and the Pram Factory with the Australian Performing Group, key incubators of Australian playwriting and a reminder that artists flourish in a supportive community.

In a self-effacing manner, Hibberd recounted his playwriting began from “theatrical ignorance”. He saw this approach as having “virtue”: he had “no preconceptions and leapt straight in”.

Hibberd, who has died at 84, will be remembered for his near 40 plays that would attract both national and international audiences – most notably, the first Chinese production of an Australian play with A Stretch of the Imagination (1987).

Finding the Australian voice

Hibberd’s first play Three old Friends (1967) was also the first production at La Mama. In a theatrical landscape dominated by scripts imported from England, Hibberd described the work as an “uninhibited use of Australian language”.

It is easy to forget the struggle for a post-war Australian culture to emerge from a British-centric domination. Playwriting would be key to the establishment and acceptance of a stage language of our own.

As Hibberd’s writing developed, British playwright Harold Pinter would be critical in inspiring Hibberd to focus on specific idiosyncratic dialogue. This would go hand in hand with Australian audiences lapping up hearing their own dialogue.

This was the New Wave of Australian theatre in the late 60s and early 70s. Hibberd and other local writers were exploring how we saw ourselves as Australian as against British.

The irony being, our writers were drawing on experimental European forms to re-create our own sense of Australianness.

Examining Australian cultural identity

Australian theatre historian Julian Meyrick notes Hibberd was the inheritor of Patrick White’s Expressionism, though more accurately able to acutely manage the dynamic between realism and anti-realism.

Hibberd’s A Stretch of the Imagination (1972), where the sole character Monk has no “being or self”, straddles this dichotomy situated in both an archetypal realist bush location and a deliberate bareness that reflects the setting of the absurdist tradition of Samuel Beckett.

Hibberd’s visualisation is similar to his use of dialogue: precise and economical. Hibberd begun writing this play with a visual concept: “I got into my noggin to see this oldish chap, very difficult chap, disgruntled contrary character with a rich life.”

This was a multi-faceted loner and exile who swung between a “typical Australian Larrikin to someone who claimed to have met Proust in Paris!”

Identity was fluid in this re-examination of an archetypal Australian cultural identity through intelligence and humour.

Bringing in the audience

His other landmark work, Dimboola (1969), concerns ritual and expresses Hibberd’s acute ear for the idiomatic quality of Australian regional dialect. The genesis began in London, where Hibberd was inspired from the audience participation in the experimental theatre he saw there.

As Hibberd recounts: “most of it didn’t work [and] it needed a structure, a form, a social ritual”. It became a wedding reception, the play being staged in halls made up to feel like a true reception, with the audience taking the place of the wedding guests.

In an interview, Hibberd crunched his fists together to explain:

It was a clash of clans. Two families trying to outdo each other: clothes, speech, social games or violence.

This was a sociological approach that again was sophisticated in its use of colloquial language. Hibberd chose the name Dimboola, a town in regional western Victoria, due to the “three flat stresses going across the mallee” revealing his dry and uncanny understanding of the subtext of language.

After its first production by the Pram Factory, many versions followed. The play had reportedly taken over $1 million at the box office by 1974. By 1978, it was estimated 350,00 people had seen it performed. It was made into a feature film in 1979, and launched an industry of dinner theatre productions in regional Australia.

For all its success, Hibberd considered a regional amateur production in Ararat the best because it was “bizarrely funny”.

His contemporary, Adrian Guthrie told me that, at the time, Hibberd’s work was “a phenomena with an acute sense of poetic language [via a] rich sophisticated Australian English”.

Writing until the end

His swansong, Killing Time, had its premiere just last year, appropriately at La Mama. Reviews said it brought forward the “inevitability of time” and death, but with still an “existential kick”.

Hibberd’s poetic voice, combined with experimental form, revolutionised Australian theatre and continued to inspire.

Dramaturg and director Tom Healey described Hibberd as

standing as an artist ranks with the likes of Boyd, Nolan, Hester and Tucker […] just as the Modernists dragged Australian painting firmly into the avant-garde, so the New Wave playwrights did the same for Australian theatre.

Hibberd will leave a powerful legacy through his contribution to Australian playwriting and culture.

Russell Fewster received funding from Adelaide Fringe/ArtSA and the Adelaide City Council for his recent production Two of Them that he wrote, directed and produced.

– ref. Remembering Jack Hibberd: the revolutionary playwright who heard Australia, and reflected us back to ourselves – https://theconversation.com/remembering-jack-hibberd-the-revolutionary-playwright-who-heard-australia-and-reflected-us-back-to-ourselves-237967

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anne Twomey, Professor Emerita in Constitutional Law, University of Sydney

Australia’s new Governor-General, Sam Mostyn, recently said that she does not fit the usual idea of a governor-general – especially the type of person we expect to see as the commander-in-chief of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). But those expectations are beginning to change, and Mostyn, from a military family, is challenging them, while respecting the importance of the role of the military in Australia and the sacrifices involved in military life.

What is the governor-general’s role as commander-in-chief?

Section 68 of the Commonwealth Constitution vests the command-in-chief of the naval and military forces of the Commonwealth in the governor-general, as the monarch’s representative. This is of symbolic importance, as it ensures the defence force is formally headed by a civilian (even though the governor-general has sometimes been an ex-military officer), rather than a military leader or a politician.

In fulfilling this role, however, the governor-general is obliged by convention (and sometimes by statute) to act on the advice of ministers. This can happen either through the Federal Executive Council, which is the formal way by which ministers advise the governor-general, or by direct advice from the defence minister or the prime minister.

The governor-general’s powers as commander-in-chief are not regarded as “reserve powers” that can be exercised contrary to, or without, the advice of his or her responsible ministers. The governor-general cannot call out the defence forces at will and use them to assume command over the country.

Why is the governor-general also commander-in-chief?

When Sir Ninian Stephen, a former High Court judge, was governor-general, he gave a speech in which he analysed the interpretation of section 68 of the Constitution. Sir Ninian had seen where military power could lead, having attended Hitler’s 1938 Nuremberg rally as a tourist while a teenager, and having fought for Australia during the second world war. He was therefore very cautious in his analysis of the control of military power in Australia.

In that speech, Sir Ninian outlined the colourful history of the relationship between vice-regal office and the role of commander-in-chief throughout colonial times. He explained how the role had transformed from being a powerful and practical one, to becoming titular in nature.

He pointed to the 1898 Constitutional Convention debates over the drafting of section 68 of the Constitution. Alfred Deakin wanted particular words included that said the governor-general could only exercise the powers of commander-in-chief on the advice of ministers in the Federal Executive Council. Edmund Barton, who went on to become Australia’s first prime minister, considered that these words were unnecessary because it was clear the governor-general’s powers were only titular.

Everyone agreed the governor-general would have no substantive military power – it was just a matter of how this was best described. Barton won the dispute, so there is no mention of the Federal Executive Council in section 68. But it is still the case that the governor-general must act on ministerial advice when exercising the powers of the commander-in-chief.

What type of powers are exercised?

Some powers, such as the power to declare war and the power to deploy troops, remain prerogative powers. This means they can be exercised by the executive government without any source in a statute. Most powers regarding defence, however, are now set out in detail in the Defence Act 1903.

Even though the governor-general is “commander-in-chief” of the ADF, section 9 of the Defence Act says the chief of the defence force “has command of the Defence Force”. In other words, the chief has the direct day-to-day power to command its activities.

In contrast, section 8 says the defence minister has “general control and administration of the Defence Force”, and that the chief of the defence force must comply with any directions of the minister.

There are nonetheless statutory limits to that compliance. For example, section 39 says that when the governor-general makes a call-out order, the chief of the defence force must utilise the force in “such a manner as is reasonable and necessary” for the purpose specified in the order. In doing so, the chief of the defence force must comply with ministerial directions, but must not stop or restrict any protest, dissent, assembly or industrial action, unless there is a reasonable likelihood of death or serious injury or serious damage to property.

The role of the governor-general is more formal than that of the chief of the defence force. It includes appointing the chief of the defence force and terminating that appointment, on the recommendation of the prime minister. In a time of war, the governor-general’s powers become more serious, including the power to issue a proclamation to conscript people to serve in the ADF.

Most importantly, it is the governor-general who formally issues a “call out order” for the deployment of the ADF to protect Commonwealth interests, such as infrastructure, or Commonwealth functions, such as the holding of elections, from violence. A call out order can also be issued, in accordance with section 119 of the Constitution, to protect a state or territory from internal violence, such as terrorism or riots, at the request of the state or territory government.

The governor-general makes a call out order under Part IIIAAA of the Defence Act, if the prime minister, the attorney-general and the defence minister are all satisfied certain conditions have been met that would justify the call out.

In making or revoking the call out order, the governor-general must act on the advice of the Federal Executive Council, or in a case of urgency, the advice of one of the prime minister, the attorney-general or the defence minister.

A symbolic role

But in the absence of war, violence and disaster, the governor-general’s defence role is mostly symbolic. He or she visits military units and presents them with colours, banners and other honours. The governor-general commemorates Australia’s war dead and military action in different ceremonies throughout the year. It is an important role that requires dignity, compassion and appreciation, and one to which the new governor-general seems well suited.

Anne Twomey has received funding from the Australian Research Council. She sometimes does consultancy work for Governments, Parliaments and inter-governmental bodies.

– ref. Explainer: the governor-general is also commander-in-chief of the defence forces. What does this mean in practice? – https://theconversation.com/explainer-the-governor-general-is-also-commander-in-chief-of-the-defence-forces-what-does-this-mean-in-practice-237959

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Haiqing Yu, Professor, School of Media and Communication, RMIT University

Blockbuster Chinese video game Black Myth: Wukong sold more than 10 million copies within days of its release last month, and its success has been hailed as a soft-power win for the Asian superpower.

However, as a Chinese idiom states, “the intention of the drunkard lies not on the wine, but on other purposes”.

China’s push into the gaming industry also serves a “harder” kind of power: the drive to bolster domestic chip manufacturing in the wake of US semiconductor export restrictions aimed at hobbling Chinese AI research.

Blockbuster gaming with Chinese characteristics

Set in the world of Ming dynasty novel Journey to the West, Black Myth: Wukong lets players control Wukong, the Monkey King, on a journey of battles and mysteries inspired by ancient Chinese mythology.

The expansive, high-budget game is the first Chinese production on this scale to achieve such global success. Developed and published by Game Science, a studio backed by tech giant Tencent, Black Myth: Wukong shows how popular culture can follow the propaganda injunction to “tell China’s story well”.

As I have commented elsewhere, despite criticisms in Western media the game is a successful cultural export and vehicle of Chinese cultural soft power.

It is a source of national pride for Chinese gamers tired of playing games with foreign settings, as illustrated by a popular post circulating on Chinese social media platforms:

你曾在大马士革骑过马
在美国西部小镇开枪决斗
也在埃及当过刺客
现在
你终于可以回到家乡
做自己的英雄

Or in English (my translation):

You once rode a horse in Damascus,
Duelled with guns in a small town in the American West,
Also served as an assassin in Egypt.
Now
You can finally return home
And be your own hero

The Chinese game industry levels up

Chinese government support for gaming is not new. For instance, in 2019, the Beijing municipal government issued guidelines aimed at establishing the city as the “international capital of online games” and leveraging games as a medium to convey compelling Chinese narratives.

The “go global” strategy for gaming has been further strengthened by broader policies implemented in 2021, 2022 and 2023, which aim to cultivate the development and international expansion of high-quality games that resonate with Chinese culture and values.

While the industry has had earlier successes with mobile gaming, Black Myth: Wukong is designed for the more expensive and prestigious console and PC gaming markets (which also require more advanced software and hardware). The success of the game has seen more money flowing into China’s game industry to develop major projects.

China is the world’s largest single market for games, but domestic restrictions such as censorship, limits on children’s gaming time, and controls on in-game spending and gambling have curbed revenue for Chinese game developers. In response, they are looking to global markets.

Blockbuster game development can be a winner-takes-all business, and the high development costs mean resources typically concentrate among top companies. So it may be a long journey for China to emerge as a true leader in the global gaming market.

A critical barrier lies in hardware, particularly the supply of advanced chips – and the technological capabilities required to develop and produce them. This is the vital linchpin for digital China’s global supremacy.

Heavy-duty gaming hardware

Chinese policymakers, tech companies, members of the gaming industry and gamers are acutely aware of the hardware bottlenecks resulting from the US–China tech war. Over the past two years, the US has imposed restrictions on the export of advanced chips to China.

While the restrictions are aimed at chips that can be used for AI, the same hardware is also needed for high-end games like Black Myth: Wukong.

The game is promoted by American chip company NVIDIA, which leads the market in the graphics processing units (GPUs) needed for cutting-edge graphics and machine learning. NVIDIA boasts it helped elevate Black Myth: Wukong’s graphics and technology to the highest levels.

To experience the game’s visuals in their full glory, a player will need an NVIDIA GPU such as the RTX 4090, which costs upwards of A$3,000. Players must also prepare their PCs with various AI-powered “upscaling” technologies, such as NVIDIA’s DLSS or alternatives made by competitor chipmakers AMD and Intel.

Currently, the best GPUs and upscaling technologies are all manufactured by American companies, leaving Chinese game developers and players without domestic options.

China has made significant investments in its domestic chipmaking capabilities. However, it is not yet competitive when it comes to the advanced chips needed for cutting-edge gaming, which are also useful for AI and military applications.

China has also targeted chipmakers in the Netherlands and South Korea, in line with its comprehensive national security strategy.

Serious games

The realms of semiconductor microchips, computer gaming and national security are deeply intertwined. Nurturing the gaming industry will stimulate demand for advanced chips – which will create a market for increased manufacturing capabilities. Industry-driven, bottom-up initiatives will proceed alongside state-led, top-down investments.

It is no wonder Chinese state media and affiliated social media influencers have all been promoting the game. It is more than boosting the gaming industry or telling Chinese stories well (and thus encouraging Western players to learn more about Chinese culture and Chinese players to take pride in their own culture).

The game is part of China’s strategic move to win the chip war by following’s Mao’s teaching of “encircling the cities from the countryside”. The short-term focus on the “countryside” of video games is for the long-term goal of taking over the “cities” of advanced chip manufacturing.

Haiqing Yu receives funding from the Australia Research Council.

– ref. ‘Be your own hero’: why video games are a battleground in the US–China tech war – https://theconversation.com/be-your-own-hero-why-video-games-are-a-battleground-in-the-us-china-tech-war-237966

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dan van den Hoek, Senior Lecturer, Clinical Exercise Physiology, University of the Sunshine Coast

The Paris Olympics have been and gone but memories of the athletes’ achievements will live on, from Mondo Duplantis breaking his own pole vault world record for the ninth time, to Sifan Hassan winning gold in women’s marathon after winning bronze in the 5,000 and 10,000m on the track earlier in the games.

For many viewers, performances like this inspire us to achieve more and strive for better.

Now, we have another opportunity for inspiration through the Paralympic Games.

Getting started

The genesis of the Paralympic Games came after the second world war, when Ludwig Guttman founded a spinal injuries centre at the Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Great Britain.

The rehabilitative power of sport led to the development of the Stoke Mandeville Games in 1948 when 16 injured servicemen and women competed in archery.

Following the growth of these games, the Paralympic Games were first held in Rome in 1960 with 400 athletes from 23 countries.

In 1976, the Paralympic Winter Games were introduced, and while the summer and winter games were held every four years, they were not aligned with the host cities for the Olympic Games.

Since 1988 (Seoul, Korea), the Paralympics and Olympics have taken part in the same cities following agreement from the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee.

Incredible athletes

Some of the feats achieved by para athletes are truly remarkable.

George Eyser was a US gymnast and Olympian at the 1904 Olympic Games in St Louis, Missouri.

Eyser won six medals (three gold) within the space of one day. The fact Eyser achieved this success with a prosthetic leg sets him apart.

Eyser though is not the only athlete with a disability to achieve incredible feats and he is not the only athlete with a disability to compete at the Olympic Games.

Australian table tennis player Melissa Tapper is the first Australian athlete to qualify for the Olympic and Paralympic teams.

Tapper has competed at three Olympic Games (2016-2024) and four Paralympic Games (2012-2024), winning a silver medal in the class 9-10 women’s event at Rio in 2016.

In para-cycling, athletes with physical disabilities compete across three different disciplines (bicycling, tricycling and hand cycling) and are classified into one of five classes (C1-C5).

Athletes across these classes reach impressive speeds on the track that near those of athletes without a disability.

In the C1 class (for athletes with the greatest degree of impairment) athletes average speeds approximately 75% of non-disabled cyclists while the C5 class reached 90% during the 1km time trial on the track.

On the athletics track, it’s hard to go past the performances of Madison de Rozario, who will compete at her fifth Paralympic Games in Paris.

With six medals (two gold, three silver, one bronze) leading into Paris, de Rozario has already added a bronze medal in the 5000m T54 class to her tally.

While many people can tell you that US swimmer Michael Phelps won 23 gold medals, three silver, and two bronze, he is still a whopping 27 medals behind the greatest Paralympian of all time. US swimmer Trischa Zorn competed at seven Paralympic Games (1980 – 2004) and won 55 medals.

Not only did Zorn win a phenomenal number of medals, 41 of them were gold (12 in Seoul 1988). Remarkably, more than 60% of the top ten most decorated gold medallists at the Summer Paralympic Games are para swimmers.

The Paralympics are a chance for us to celebrate the diversity and success of athletes with disabilities.

In many cases, the performances of these athletes meet or exceed those of their Olympic counterparts.

This is especially true on the athletics track, where wheelchair world records are faster than Olympic records for every distance greater than 400m.

For power sports, look no further than the para-powerlifting, where athletes with disabilities would hold almost all bench press world records.

Unique events

Performance comparisons are usually possible because most Paralympic sports are also contested at the Olympic Games.

However, some sports, such as goalball and boccia are exclusive to the Paralympic Games.

Boccia, in particular, is notable for its inclusivity, as it caters to athletes with severe impairments who are often underrepresented in para sport.

Boccia athletes are classified into four sport classes — BC1 to BC4 — and compete in singles, pairs, and team events. Their goal is to throw, kick or roll a set number of balls of varying hardness and texture as close as possible to a target white ball, known as the “jack,” using their arms, legs, or a ramp device (for BC3 athletes).

Australia has yet to claim a gold medal in Boccia, but there is hope on the horizon, with Dan Michel and Jamieson Leeson poised to make history for the country in this sport.

So, as we watch these fantastic athletes in Paris, let’s remember, the Paralympic Games are not a sideshow or a follow-up to the Olympics – they are a world class, high-performance experience to be celebrated in their own right.

Dan van den Hoek has undertaken unpaid consultancy and research in collaboration with World Para Powerlifting (WPPO) and provided research guidance to Paralympics Australia.

Angelo Macaro works for Sporting Wheelies and collaborates in an unpaid capacity with the School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences at The University of Queensland.

– ref. After being wowed by Olympic athletes in Paris, it’s time to take notice of exceptional Paralympic exploits – https://theconversation.com/after-being-wowed-by-olympic-athletes-in-paris-its-time-to-take-notice-of-exceptional-paralympic-exploits-237968

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christopher Voisey, Research Fellow in the School of Earth, Atmosphere, & Environment, Monash University

Humanity’s fascination with gold stretches back thousands of years. Gold mining is described in ancient Greek and Roman sources, and gold rushes – especially in the 19th century – played a powerful role in shaping the modern world.

The dense, yellow metal is often found in veins of the rocky mineral quartz. This is because the two condense together from hot fluids underground as a result of changes in temperature, pressure and chemistry.

Geologists understand this process quite well, but large gold nuggets have been a bit of a mystery. Gold is only dissolved in natural fluids at around one part per million, so how does it concentrate into lumps that weigh tens or even hundreds of kilograms?

As we report today in Nature Geoscience, the answer likely has to do with the unusual electrical properties of quartz – and what happens when an earthquake puts it under pressure.

Quartz under pressure

Quartz is what is called a piezoelectric material. There aren’t many minerals like this on Earth, and quartz is by far the most abundant.

Piezoelectric materials generate an instantaneous electric charge when put under stress – when there is a physical force compressing or stretching them. The bigger the force, the bigger the charge.

Quartz is one of the most strongly piezoelectric materials found in nature. Its piezoelectricity is what provides the spark in a BBQ lighter, as well as making most wristwatches tick.

During earthquakes, the movement of Earth’s tectonic plates can put quartz in the ground under huge stress. This can produce significant buildups of electric charge. Some have suggested this may be the cause of “earthquake lights” – flashes or glows in the sky seen during an earthquake.

Could this piezoelectricity also have something to do with how gold nuggets form?

Dissolved gold

The largest gold nuggets are often found in places where fluids flow through faults in rock during earthquakes. This creates veins of quartz that can contain gold.

It takes hundreds or thousands of earthquakes to create a deposit, so the quartz crystals in veins may experience thousands of episodes of stress.

When gold is dissolved in a natural fluid, it is often bonded to other molecules. If something makes these molecules unstable, the gold atoms may pop out of these molecules and form a deposit on a nearby surface.

One thing that can destabilise a molecule is hitting it with an electron. We know quartz can develop a buildup of electrons when stressed – as happens during an earthquake – but can it transfer these electrons to gold dissolved in a fluid?

We needed a way to find out.

A mini earthquake in the lab

Doing experiments with real earthquakes is quite tricky, so we tried to simulate one in the laboratory. We designed an experiment to replicate the “rattling” a quartz crystal would feel during an earthquake.

Our experiments involved submerging quartz crystals in gold-bearing fluids and then applying back-and-forth stress to the crystal with a motor. Each time the motor head hit the quartz, it generated a voltage.

Afterwards, we put the quartz sample under an electron scanning microscope to see if any gold had been deposited on the quartz surface. The results were shocking! (Sorry.)

Not only did we see gold deposited onto the quartz surface, we also saw it clumping together into nanoparticles. What’s more, once the process began, gold was more likely to be deposited onto existing grains of gold than on quartz.

This actually makes a lot of sense, as quartz is an electrical insulator and gold conducts electricity. The existing gold grains adopt the electric potential from the nearby quartz and become the focus of reactions that deposit gold.

Industrial gold-plating works in much the same way, only here we are gold-plating other gold.

Back to nuggets

Now we know how quartz and gold behave this way in the lab, we can think about geology again.

Some of the most impressive gold nuggets ever found have been in quartz veins where gold-bearing fluids flow through faults in earthquake-prone rock.

During seismic activity, the stress on quartz can generate piezoelectric voltages capable of drawing gold from these fluids. Once deposited, gold becomes the focus of further piezoelectric plating as fluid infiltration continues – so the gold deposits grow bigger over time.

Over millions and millions of years, this process will be repeated again and again. Is this the reason we see such large gold nuggets in this kind of quartz vein? We think it must be at least part of the picture.

Christopher Voisey receives funding from the Australian Research Council and the Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia.

– ref. How do you make a giant gold nugget? Take a vein of quartz, add a few thousand earthquakes – https://theconversation.com/how-do-you-make-a-giant-gold-nugget-take-a-vein-of-quartz-add-a-few-thousand-earthquakes-236694

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chris Cunneen, Professor of Criminology, University of Technology Sydney

This article contains information on deaths in custody and the violence experienced by First Nations people in encounters with the Australian carceral system. It also contains references to and the names of people who are now deceased.

The treatment of Australia’s children and young people is back on the national agenda.

The inquest into the death of 16-year-old Yamatji boy Cleveland Dodd in Casuarina Prison has unveiled systemic failings in the Western Australian government’s management of youth justice. The former head of the Department of Justice deemed it “institutional abuse”.

Late last week, another 17-year-old boy was reported to have died in WA’s Banksia Hill Detention Centre.

In Queensland, the Inspector of Detention Services recently reported children and young people at Cleveland Youth Detention Centre were spending extended periods (more than 20 hours) in solitary confinement, either in their rooms or in designated separation rooms with no toilet, no running water and no furniture. Six young people were in “separation” for more than 71 consecutive days.

If there is a sense of déjà vu, it’s because we have been here many times before. These problems have been endemic to imprisoning children and young people throughout Australia for at least the past decade and a half.

And yet, we’ve seen political attempts to curb youth crime by lowering the age of criminal responsibility and putting more young people behind bars. Time and evidence have shown us while these messages appeal to the public’s genuine desire for safety, they don’t make us any safer at all.

The politics of youth crime

The new Country Liberal Party government in the Northern Territory wants to lower the age of criminal responsibility to ten, to change bail laws and introduce boot camps.

It comes off the back of widespread community concern about law and order during the election campaign.

In the lead-up to the Queensland election, both Labor and the Coalition are racing to outdo each other to adopt more punitive law and order policies towards young people.

The Coalition launched its “adult crime, adult time” policy which would see children and young people tried as adults for serious crimes.

The state Labor government recently passed a bill which, among other changes, waters down the sentencing principle of detention as a last resort.

The Queensland Human Rights Commission said the changes will likely increase criminalisation, increase the numbers of children held in youth prisons and police watch houses, and have a disproportionate impact on First Nations children.

Expectations vs reality

Politically inspired law and order policies operate in a parallel universe to the real effects of criminalisation and imprisonment.

For example, we know a low age of criminal responsibility is contrary to human rights standards, out of kilter with most countries, contrary to what we know of children’s developmental stages, and entrenches children in the criminal legal system.

Read more:
Can a 10-year-old be responsible for a crime? Here’s what brain science tells us

At the same time, it doesn’t build safer communities.

Nearly three-quarters of children aged 10–13 who were sentenced to community-based supervision returned to the youth justice system within 12 months.

Although First Nations children are overrepresented throughout the youth justice system – being 23 times more likely than non-Indigenous children to be under some type of supervisory order – First Nations children are especially overrepresented among younger cohorts.

Contact with youth justice at an earlier age means children become entrenched in the criminal legal system and increases the likelihood of future imprisonment.

It also has a disproportionate impact on young children from the child protection system. In 2014–15, three in five children aged ten under youth justice supervision were also in the child protection system. There’s also a failure to protect young children with mental ill-health and cognitive disability from criminalisation and incarceration.

Raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility has been under consideration for several years nationally. In 2023, the Standing Council of Attorneys-General’s Working Group provided guidance for lifting the minimum age.

It is an important part of the Closing the Gap strategy to reduce First Nations child incarceration rates. In wanting to lower the age, the NT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro is undermining the National Agreement.

In a jurisdiction where 30% of the population are First Nations, lowering the age would further entrench systemic racism within the justice system.

Children behind bars

Somewhat separate to the minimum age of criminal responsibility is the use of imprisonment for children and young people (which is euphemistically referred to as “detention”).

Some countries, such as Switzerland, have a legislative restriction on the use of child imprisonment. The youth court can only impose “educational measures” on children aged 10–14. Prison sentences are restricted to those aged 15 and above.

In Australia, except for those jurisdictions that have raised the minimum age of criminal responsibility (NT now and ACT from 2025), children aged ten and older can be and sometimes are imprisoned.

Victoria had committed to raising the age to 14 by 2027, but has revised it down to 12 in a bill before state parliament.

Tasmania has committed to raising the minimum age for the use of imprisonment to 16, from July 2029.

The negative effects of imprisonment on children have been well documented, including separation, isolation, trauma, violence and disruption to schooling and employment.

But for those more concerned about community safety, one simple statistic shows the failure of child imprisonment. Some 88% of First Nations children and 79% of non-Indigenous children will be back in the youth justice system within 12 months of being released from youth detention centres.

Just last month, the Australian Human Rights Commission released a report on transforming child justice. The children’s commissioner stated:

our communities will not be safer if we just keep punishing and locking up children who have complex needs caused by poverty, homelessness, disability, health and mental health issues, domestic, family and sexual violence, systemic racism and intergenerational trauma.

We need to question whether the use of imprisonment is suitable for any child or young person.

At a cost of more than $1 million every year to lock up a child, it does not come cheaply. Meanwhile First Nations community-led responses, plus community-based services in general, lack adequate, consistent and long-term funding.

The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Locking up young people might make you feel safer but it doesn’t work, now or in the long term – https://theconversation.com/locking-up-young-people-might-make-you-feel-safer-but-it-doesnt-work-now-or-in-the-long-term-237742

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Allen Cheng, Professor of Infectious Diseases, Monash University

A current strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, has become a global problem. The virus has affected many millions of birds, some other animal species, and a small number of people.

Last week, the Australian government issued a warning to residents travelling to Europe, North America, South America and Asia about the risk of bird flu.

The alert, published on the Smartraveller website, included advice to ensure your flu vaccine is up to date. If you are about to go travelling, this generally means if you’ve had a flu jab this year, although if it has been 3–6 months since your vaccine you should discuss this with your doctor.

But the seasonal flu vaccine we get each year doesn’t actually prevent bird flu in humans. So why is it being recommended in this context?

Some bird flu background

Smartraveller notes several strains of bird flu are currently circulating.

The most concerning strain, called the 2.3.4.4b clade, emerged a few years ago from a type of influenza A (H5, or A/H5) that has been circulating for several decades.

Clade 2.3.4.4b primarily affects birds, including wild birds and poultry. It has had devastating effects on bird populations, as well as farmers and others involved in the poultry industry.

In recent years, clade 2.3.4.4b has adapted to infect some mammals. Unfortunately it seems to cause severe disease in certain animals. Some marine mammals have been hit particularly hard, with mass mortality events reported in elephant seals and sea lions. In the United States, bird flu has also spread among dairy cows.

Compared to the huge number of animal cases, there have been a relatively small number of humans infected with bird flu. Since 2003, 878 cases of A/H5N1 influenza have been reported in humans, with a small proportion of these reported since 2020 when clade 2.3.4.4b first emerged. The reported cases have been people who have had close contact with infected animals. It does not appear to spread from person to person.

As such, the risk to travellers is low. There are some situations where the risk may be greater, such as for people visiting live markets, or those who are travelling specifically to work with wildlife or animals in food production.

Infections in humans with H5 influenza can vary significantly in severity, from mild conjunctivitis up to fatal pneumonia. H5 influenza strains appear to be sensitive to antivirals (oseltamivir, also known as Tamiflu) and they are generally recommended as treatment for human infection, but it’s not clear whether they reduce the risk of death in those with severe disease.

To date, one case of A/H5 influenza (not 2.3.4.4b) has been reported in Australia, in a child who had recently returned from overseas.

While clade 2.3.4.4b has been detected in all continents except Australia, other avian influenza strains (A/H7) have been reported here earlier this year.

Seasonal flu vaccines are not effective against bird flu

Seasonal influenza refers to the flu strains that circulate each year. Since the COVID pandemic, three different strains have circulated in various proportions – influenza A H1N1 (descended from the 2009 swine flu strain), influenza A H3N2 (which has circulated since 1968) and an influenza B strain. Interestingly, a second influenza B strain (the Yamagata lineage) appears to have vanished during the COVID pandemic.

Seasonal influenza vaccines contain up-to-date variants of these types (A/H1N1, A/H3N2 and B) that are recommended by the World Health Organization each year. They are moderately effective, reducing the risk of hospitalisation by about 40–60%.

Influenza vaccines are quite specific in the protection that they provide. For seasonal vaccines, even the very small changes that occur in the virus from year to year are enough to allow them to “escape” vaccine-induced immunity. Therefore seasonal flu vaccines do not provide any protection against A/H5 influenza.

Preventing a hybrid bird-human strain

The rationale for recommending travellers have a flu shot in the context of the current bird flu outbreak is that seasonal flu vaccines may help reduce the risk of simultaneous infection with both A/H5 and a seasonal influenza strain.

When this occurs, there is potential for a “recombination” of the genetic code from both viral strains. This could have the transmissibility of a seasonal human virus with the severity of an avian influenza virus. The 2009 swine flu strain arose from the recombination of several strains over years to become more transmissible in humans.

Obviously a more effective vaccine would include a H5 strain, to generate immune responses specific to the H5 flu strain. Vaccine manufacturers have developed H5 vaccines over the years, but to date only Finland has deployed a H5 vaccine in a small group of people who work closely with potentially infected animals.

Currently the level of risk posed by H5 to humans is not thought to be sufficient to require a specific vaccine program, as the potential benefits are small compared to the costs and the potential risks associated with any new vaccine program.

The value of a flu shot for travellers

Seasonal flu vaccines protect against influenza infection, and may also reduce the risk of simultaneous infection with human and bird flu strains. Bird flu aside, for most travellers who haven’t received a flu shot this year, reducing the risk of illness disrupting travel plans should be enough of a reason to get one.

For those who have already received a flu shot this season, similar to COVID jabs, protection after vaccination appears to wane over time. So if you’re travelling to the northern hemisphere during the winter months, and it’s been more than 3–6 months since you received a flu vaccine, your doctor may recommend you have another.

Bird flu is only a small risk to most travellers, but people may want to take sensible precautions, such as avoiding close contact with birds at markets.

Allen Cheng receives funding from the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council and the Australian Government. He is a member of the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation and the Communicable Diseases Network of Australia.

– ref. Flu shots play an important role in protecting against bird flu. But not for the reason you might think – https://theconversation.com/flu-shots-play-an-important-role-in-protecting-against-bird-flu-but-not-for-the-reason-you-might-think-237859

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gina Masterton, Indigenous Australian Postdoctoral Research Fellow, School of Justice, Queensland University of Technology

Last year, more than 1,200 people died in road crashes across Australia. But not all Australians face the same level of risk on our roads.

Government data across five states and territories show significant inequity in road safety.

Data from New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory show First Nations people are about 2.8 times more likely to die on the road than non-First Nations Australians.

One thing we can do to reduce this transport inequity is make it easier for First Nations people to get their driver’s licence. This will not only improve road safety. This will bring individuals and communities many other benefits.

There’s a huge difference

Between 2012 and 2021, 791 First Nations people died in road crashes. This is 12.7 out of every 100,000 First Nations people.

In comparison, the rate for non-First Nations people was 4.6 people per 100,000 population.

Among First Nations people, those aged 26-39 face the highest risk of a road death, with a rate of 20.9 per 100,000 population. While the risk for those aged 40 and older has steadily declined since 2016, the risk has risen for the 26-39 age group in recent years.

Fatal road crashes involving First Nations people mainly occur in inner and outer regional areas, and remote and very remote areas of Australia. For instance, of the 76 road deaths of First Nations people in 2021, only 13% took place in major cities.

There is also a notable gender difference in the circumstances of road deaths involving First Nations people. More than 40% of female road deaths occur as car passengers and 23% as pedestrians. But males are more often drivers, motorcyclists or cyclists.

Driver’s licences are a real issue

Unlicensed drivers are at greater risk of dying on the road or being involved in serious crashes. And one crucial factor contributing to the higher road fatality rates in First Nations people is the significant barriers faced in obtaining a driver’s licence.

Licensing rates among First Nations people are lower compared to the general population. For example, only 51-77% of First Nations people surveyed across various sites in NSW and SA held a driver’s licence, compared to 83% in the general population.

This disparity is deeply intertwined with the impact of colonisation and the way laws around driver licensing are imposed and implemented.

My research (Masterton) in rural Australia demonstrates what this means in practice.

What if you can’t afford a car or lessons?

In research yet to be published, I am exploring transport challenges First Nations women face in rural Queensland. Through yarning, interviews and brief surveys, several common barriers are evident.

Some women have a licence or learner permit. Others have expired licences and are struggling to renew them. Most, however, have no licence. A significant number (licensed or unlicensed) have no access to a roadworthy vehicle or cannot afford one.

Many women without a licence still drive out of necessity: to take their children to school, go to work or care for family. Most, however, rely on walking or getting rides to manage their daily lives. Only a small fraction of the women, who had both a valid licence and a car, expressed feelings of freedom, independence and higher self-confidence.

During visits to remote communities, it became clear First Nations people who took part in my research are not resistant to getting their licence.

Research also shows First Nations people do not have poorer attitudes to road safety than non-First Nations people. However, the licensing process needs to be culturally appropriate and accessible to encourage participation.

Obstacles such as literacy barriers, the complexity of navigating a system designed for native English speakers, mistrust of authorities and the high costs associated with getting a licence, all contribute to the low rates of licensing.

There are challenges related to providing adequate identification documents (such as birth certificates), and finding driving instructors who can effectively work with First Nations people.

The high cost of driving lessons, difficulty in accessing a licensed driver to supervise practice hours, and the financial burden of unpaid fines for driving unlicensed further complicate the path to getting a licence.

Addressing these issues could make a significant difference in improving transport equity and road safety for First Nations communities.

It’s not just about transport

For many First Nations people, particularly those in remote areas, the ability to travel safely and legally is crucial for accessing health care, fulfilling cultural responsibilities and participating in the workforce.

So the issue of reduced driver licensing in First Nations communities is also a profound social justice issue that impacts the broader health, wellbeing and autonomy of these communities.

This means the barriers to getting a licence – whether financial, logistical, or bureaucratic – exacerbate existing inequalities. It creates a ripple effect, limiting mobility and reinforcing social and economic disadvantage.

How do we address this?

Addressing the licensing gap requires coordinated efforts across multiple sectors, including health, education, transport and justice.

Community-driven programs, financial support and policy changes can all make licensing more accessible.

There have been community-based pilot programs aimed at supporting First Nations people getting their licence in NSW and the NT.

The programs provide culturally tailored, community-based licensing support through intensive case management, mentoring, and addressing specific barriers to access and navigate the licensing system, and to obtain and reinstate licences. These pilot programs have shown great promise and effectiveness, indicating that they should be scaled up and rolled out more widely, with community support.

Licensing is also a justice issue. Some one in 20 Aboriginal people in jail is serving a sentence for unlicensed driving and other driver’s licence offences.

So First Nations sentencing courts and other programs designed to divert people from jail could also help First Nations individuals get their licence and limit further contact with the justice system.

In this article we use the term First Nations people, which we adopt from the Uluru Statement of the Heart.

Milad Haghani receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

Teresa Senserrick currently receives funding from the Western Australian Road Safety Commission and the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia, and previously from the Australian Research Council.

Gina Masterton does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. First Nations people are 3 times more likely to die on the road. Here’s how to fix Australia’s transport injustice – https://theconversation.com/first-nations-people-are-3-times-more-likely-to-die-on-the-road-heres-how-to-fix-australias-transport-injustice-236395

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kerry Walton, Curator Invertebrates, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

It has long been suspected that a small pāua (known as abalone, ormers or ear-shells overseas) found around a remote island chain north of Aotearoa New Zealand differs from all other pāua.

Our earlier genetic research, using pioneering methods to extract ancient DNA from shells, provided the extra evidence needed.

We could now formally name and describe the new species of pāua from the Three Kings Islands/Manawatāwhi.

The scientific name of the Manawatāwhi pāua, Haliotis pirimoana, was proposed by Ngāti Kuri, who hold historic and territorial rights over the islands (mana i te whenua). Its name means “the pāua that clings to the sea”.

A national treasure

Pāua live on shallow reefs around the world, where they graze on algae. Globally, there are about 70 pāua species, ranging from “button” to “beret” in size.

Globally, few wild-caught abalone fisheries remain due to overfishing and a “withering disease” that has, fortunately, not been detected in Aotearoa New Zealand.

In New Zealand, we now recognise four living pāua species. Three of these – the black-foot pāua (Haliotis iris, which grows to about 200mm in size), the yellow-foot pāua (H. australis, 120mm) and the virgin pāua (H. virginea, 70mm) – are distributed broadly along the coast of mainland New Zealand.

Pāua are a taonga (national treasure). Their opalescent shells are iconic: they form the eyes of carvings, were used in traditional fishing lures, and feature in contemporary art and jewellery.

Surprisingly, these wonderful colours are not caused by different pigments. Instead, they result from a layer of shell made of a special form of calcium carbonate that splits light into its component parts, like oil on water.

Recreational harvest of pāua as kaimoana (seafood) is a national pastime (as is debate over the best ways to tenderise and cook them). Black-foot pāua are also the focus of growing aquaculture and pearl industries.

Why this matters

It’s not every day we discover a new species, although it happens more often than you might think.

Species discovery is seldom punctuated by a clear “Eureka!” moment. More often, it’s a muted thought that something looks a little different. So it was with the discovery of the Manawatāwhi pāua.

The Manawatāwhi pāua grows to just shy of 40mm. It is unlikely to have any commercial value or require conservation efforts. However, this species is another in the list of taonga (treasures) unique to Manawatāwhi specifically, and to Aotearoa more broadly.

The Manawatāwhi island chain lies roughly 60km northwest of Cape Reinga/Te Rerenga Wairua, the northern tip of the North Island. The islands are rugged, remote and beautiful.

Surrounded by deep water, and directly in the path of the Tasman Front which brings warm water from Australia but results in the localised upwelling of cold water, Manawatāwhi teems with life. Many of the islands’ coastal and terrestrial species occur nowhere else on Earth.

Manawatāwhi is not “pristine”, but the region remains a benchmark showing what much of Aotearoa used to be like. Ngāti Kuri are keenly aware of the importance of the taonga in their rohe (tribal area), and they are active in restoration, research and conservation efforts.

Biodiversity research, expertise and reference collections are critical for understanding the structure of regional ecosystems and predicting how they might respond to human activities and the changing climate. Such research provides the evidence necessary for effective fisheries, biosecurity and conservation management. It can ultimately contribute significantly to the economy.

We are in a global biodiversity crisis. Species are going extinct faster than we can discover and name them. The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa and the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) recently partnered with Ocean Census to discover hundreds of new species from deep water off southern Aotearoa.

There are, however, thousands of species we have already discovered, which are still awaiting formal names. There are very few biodiversity scientists left in Aotearoa to do this work.

This research reflects our obligation towards future generations so they, too, can enjoy the wonderful richness of our biodiversity.

Nic Rawlence receives funding from the Royal Society Te Apārangi Marsden Fund.

Hamish G Spencer and Kerry Walton do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. ‘The pāua that clings to the sea’: a new species of abalone found only in waters off a remote NZ island chain – https://theconversation.com/the-paua-that-clings-to-the-sea-a-new-species-of-abalone-found-only-in-waters-off-a-remote-nz-island-chain-236568

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chris Briggs, Research Director, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney

As Australia’s electricity supply shifts to clean energy, a big challenge is looming. How do we “keep the lights on” as big coal plants close, and a far-flung network of wind and solar generators replaces them?

This balancing act was outlined in the latest annual stocktake by the Australian Energy Market Operator. It said large-scale renewables projects must be delivered on time and in full if electricity in Australia’s eastern mainland states, plus South Australia and Tasmania, was to remain stable in the next decade.

The energy transition doesn’t just mean building wind and solar generators. It also means getting electricity to where consumers need it, via the transmission network.

But Australia desperately needs the skilled workers and materials to build that infrastructure and keep the energy transition on track.

The transmission crunch

After electricity is generated by a coal plant or wind farm, it must be transported to an electrical substation. There, the electricity is converted to a lower voltage, then sent to homes and businesses.

Moving electricity from the generator to the substation requires high-voltage cables, towers to support them, and devices known as “transformers” to convert the energy. Collectively, this is known as the transmission network.

The clean energy transition is testing Australia’s transmission capabilities. Solar and wind farms are often built in regional areas, where it’s sunny and windy. In many cases, transmission infrastructure to those areas doesn’t exist, or needs upgrading.

The Albanese government’s A$20 billion Rewiring the Nation policy is an attempt to grapple with this problem. It aims to help finance the 10,000 kilometres of transmission lines the Australian Energy Market Operator has identified as needed.

But transmission lines are large, complex projects that take years to plan and build. Projects often suffer delays, both in Australia and around the world.

The International Energy Agency estimates 80 million kilometres of power lines must be built or refurbished globally by 2040 – and projects are not keeping pace.

Several factors can delay the rollout of the transmission network. Opposition from communities or landholders to hosting infrastructure is a well-publicised problem.

But two other hurdles are often overlooked: the equipment and workers needed for the massive expansion.

How to build an electricity grid

Building transmission lines involves:

• civil works to install foundations and erect the towers

• electrical works to string the lines between the towers with cranes or helicopters and connect to the grid

• installing sub-stations and transformers.

Most materials are imported. Specialised components such as lines, transformers and cables are manufactured near bigger markets in Europe and the United States. Transmission towers are imported from overseas and assembled in Australia.

And workers are needed to put all the materials together. They include construction managers, electrical engineers, electricians, truck drivers, construction riggers and earthmoving operators.

The Australian Energy Market Operator now factors in a 12-month delay for transmission projects, based on recent precedent. It also notes many are scheduled for completion between 2025 and 2030.

This will create a spike in demand for equipment and workers.

The race for materials and workers

Around the world, transmission projects have been hit by delays in recent years. Specialised components must be ordered well in advance, increasing lead times for projects.

And Australia is a small buyer located a long way from manufacturers. Larger, established buyers are often prioritised, leaving Australia struggling to compete.

The workforce required for transmission projects is not especially large – peaking at around 4,000 workers in the late 2020s.

However, there is a shortage of specialised labour. Australia has been importing skilled transmission workers. But as transmission projects scale up globally, this labour pool may dry up.

As one project manager noted in a federal government report in 2021, the transmission industry is bracing for worker shortages if multiple projects proceed at the same time:

We don’t have enough substation specialists, commissioning specialists or linesworkers across Australia. […] It’s going to be tricky.

Some workers can be sourced from other industries. But they must be trained or upskilled, and tradespeople may not want to move to regional areas or become fly in-fly out (FIFO) workers. As a transmission builder noted in the report:

if someone has a choice between a FIFO or to live in Sydney or Brisbane and work on overhead rail then what do you choose – jumping on a plane and living in a camp to do a 12-hour day?

And what about electricians? Australia faces a shortage of sparkies as renewable energy projects scale up and homes move away from gas towards electrification. Jobs Skills Australia estimates the transition to a clean energy economy will require between 26,000 and 42,000 electricians out to 2030.

Smoothing the bumps

Securing the materials we need to build out the grid will be difficult.

Companies have begun “bundling up” orders for several transmission projects at once, to increase their buying power with overseas manufacturers. Proposals for local manufacturing of components exist, but these take time and could only reduce, not eliminate, our dependence on imports.

National coordination is needed to smooth the peaks in demand – for both materials and workers – created by many simultaneous transmission projects.

On the labour front, a huge training effort is needed, especially for engineers and key trades. Some initiatives are underway, but not at the scale required.

Unless governments and industry tackle these problems more seriously, Australia’s clean energy transition could face major delays.

The Institute for Sustainable Futures has received funding from various sources for research on employment in renewable energy and transmission, including Infrastructure Australia and the RACE for 2030 Cooperative Research Centre.

– ref. Australia needs tradies and materials to build the power grid of the future. So where are they? – https://theconversation.com/australia-needs-tradies-and-materials-to-build-the-power-grid-of-the-future-so-where-are-they-237858